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PTSD, Alabama Workers Compensation, Social Security Disability and First Responders

PTSD, Alabama Workers Compensation, Social Security Disability and First Responders

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental condition which develops after a person has experienced a traumatic event.  There has been an increase in post-traumatic stress cases due to soldiers in the military returning home from the war front-which is totally understandable, but PTSD can be caused by any severe stressful event and is not uncommon in persons who have unfortunately experienced physical and/or mental abuse.  Our First Responders often have to deal with the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but unfortunately, in Alabama our Police, Firefighters, Emergency Responders and Healthcare workers cannot receive compensation under Alabama’s Workers’ Compensation laws unless they suffered a physical injury.  What they see and hear may scar them forever, but unless they had some injury-however slight-they are left to deal with their PTSD on their own, and this just isn’t right.

There is a move among some States to make changes to their workers’ compensation laws so as to cover our first line defenders for mental injuries they suffer as a result of their job duties so their injuries will be covered even if they did not suffer a physical injury.  Bills like these are need in every State-Alabama included.  Our First Responders deal with situations and see and hear things that would haunt us all and they have earned the right to be taken care of should they suffer mental injuries.

The Social Security Administration considers post traumatic stress disorder disabling where there is medical evidence reflecting that one has suffered a traumatic event in one’s life and the event continues to haunt the person through: flashbacks or nightmares concerning the event, recurrent panic attacks, hypervigilance, exaggerated reaction to events, mood swings, increased anger outburst, difficulty sleeping, depression, anxiety, difficulty with concentration or loss of interest in things which the person used to be able to enjoy. If severe, PTSD can severely limit a person’s ability function in a consistent way, which makes keeping a job difficult, if not impossible. If your condition is such that it has prevented you from working for 12 months or is reasonably expected to keep you from working on a sustained basis for at least 12 months, you could be entitled to disability benefits.

If you are a First Responder-or any worker-who has suffered a job injury and you have developed mental problems such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc., then your mental injuries should be covered by the workers’ compensation insurance carrier.  If they are not, then you need to avail yourself to the services of an Alabama Job Injury Attorney.

If you are a First Responder and know a First Responder-I urge you to contact your Alabama State Representative and ask them to pass a bill that would cover mental injuries for our First Responders whether they suffer a physical injury or not.

If you live in Alabama and have been diagnosed as suffering with from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and you have been denied Social Security Disability benefits or SSI benefits, don’t give up; call and speak with one of the experienced Alabama Social Security Disability attorneys at Powell and Denny today for a free consultation. Appointments are available in person, or virtually via Zoom if more convenient.

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Powell and Denny have been selected as one of the Best Law Firms by U.S. News and World Report for each of the last 9 years, have been selected as one of Birmingham’s Top Lawyers by B-Metro Magazine for the last 5 years, have been selected by The National Advocates as one of the Top 20 Workers’ Compensation Firms (plaintiffs) and Powell and Denny, P.C.-has been selected as one of the “Best of the Best” law firms by The American Registry.

Mr. Denny is AV rated by Martindale Hubbard (the highest rating possible) and Mr. Powell has been rated as Superior by The National Registry

+ Powell and Denny have successfully represented injured workers from Birmingham, Huntsville, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Athens, Decatur, Town Creek Ardmore, Hartselle, Madison, Toney, Scottsboro, Ft. Payne, New Hope, Guntersville, Albertville, Boaz, Ashville, Anniston, Gadsden, Cullman, Jasper, Gardendale, Morris, Kimberly, Centerpoint, Leeds, Tarrant City, Fairfield, Hueytown, Bessemer, Adger, Tuscaloosa, Cordova, Alabaster, Pelham, Harpersville, Opelika, Phenix City, Montgomery, Clanton, Calera, Enterprise, Monroeville, Mobile, Evergreen, Alabaster, Pelham, Trussville and towns and cities in between.

 

PTSD, Alabama Workers Compensation, Social Security Disability and First Responders

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    1320 Alford Avenue
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    Birmingham, Alabama 35226
    Phone: 205-978-2051
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    Huntsville, Alabama 35802
    Phone: 256-705-3510
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