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Experienced Representation For Southern Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Claims

New bill helps PTSD victims file for workers’ comp in Minnesota

On Behalf of | Jul 23, 2018 | Uncategorized |

For fire fighters, police officers, paramedics and other professionals dealing with crisis situations regularly, it’s common for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to develop after an extraordinary event.

Recently, Gov. Dayton signed a PTSD workers’ compensation bill with provisions that assume a PTSD injury is work-related for certain public safety and emergency workers.

According to Sen. Nick Frentz, DFL-North Mankato, “The rate of suicide among firefighters and other first responders is nearly three times the rate of the normal population in the United States.”

Prior to passing the bill, even emergency workers who had been clinically diagnosed with PTSD could be denied worker’s compensation if the worker had not suffered physical injuries on the job. Now, workers may be able to get the support they need because there is no longer a requirement for certain emergency workers to prove what caused their PTSD.

Some of the symptoms of PTSD that these professionals may suffer include:

  • Nightmares
  • Flashbacks
  • Seeing, hearing, or smelling something that causes the person to relive a traumatic experience
  • Irritability
  • Lack of trust
  • Sleeplessness
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Skittishness

These are just a few examples of the symptoms that can make it extremely difficult for victims of PTSD to cope with traumatic, work-related experiences.

If you or a loved one may be suffering from PTSD as a result of emergency work, there’s no risk in calling Rosengren Law Office to discuss whether you may have a case for worker’s compensation.