Sometimes a work injury can kick off a chain of connected events. For example, a work injury may lead to you calling a lawyer, which will then lead to the filing of an injury claim. But an injury can also set off some more complex events, like if you suffer a back injury at work and then develop PTSD or anxiety as a result of the work trauma.
When a work injury leads to another set of physical or mental injuries, these are classified as consequential injuries. The original injury is covered by workers’ compensation, but what about these secondary injuries? We explain how consequential are handled by the Minnesota workers’ compensation system in today’s blog.
Consequential Injuries And Workers’ Compensation
As we explained above, a consequential injury is a condition that develops as a result of an initial work injury. We gave one example above, but there are countless injuries that could fit the bill of a consequential injury. A few more examples include:
- Developing an infection after suffering a puncture wound on the job.
- Slipping and falling and hurting your back because you were wearing a walking boot after an initial work injury.
- Developing mental anguish or depression as a result of a traumatic work injury.
- Suffering a subsequent health problem as a result of an adverse reaction to medication or anesthesia used in connection with treating an initial work injury.
These are just a few examples, but as long as the secondary injury can be traced back to the initial work injury using reasoned medical evidence, you may have a claim. The key here is the clause about “reasoned medical evidence.” Odds are the insurance company will push back against your consequential injury claim, as they may argue that the two are not related, which is why it is so important to have a workers’ compensation lawyer helping with your claim.
We can help develop a claim that shows a clear and reasoned connection between your initial covered work injury and your consequential diagnosis. But we don’t just do this alone. Depending on your case, we can bring in expert medical professionals who can speak to the nature of your initial injury and how it can directly lead into your consequential injury. Any evidence that can be used to strengthen your claim will be considered in order to get you the compensation you deserve.
So if you’ve developed a back problem after suffering a major knee injury at work, or you’re wondering if your frequent headaches are a result of the eye injury you suffered at work, reach out to a personal injury lawyer and see if you may have a case. If you’ve already received compensation for one injury, but that initial injury directly contributed to a secondary injury or psychological condition, speak to a lawyer in your area about your options.
At Hey Workers, we’ve won consequential injury cases in the past, and we can do the same for you. To learn more about the options available to you, give our team of injury lawyers a call today at (844) 439-9675.
