Wisconsin workers' compensation law offers the following definition of an "injury": Any physical or mental harm that is caused because of a workplace accident or disease, which includes accidental damage to dental appliances, artificial limbs and teeth. This article will discuss in detail the types and varieties of injuries covered by the law in this respect:
- Physical harm includes injuries like: burns, bruises, fractures, cuts, hernias, crushing injuries, stiffness, strains, sprains, loss and/or amputation of body parts, hearing loss, paralysis, vision loss and disfiguring injuries.
- Mental harm includes work-caused conditions like: hysteria, traumatic neurosis and nervous disorders. Damage from brain hemorrhage could be related to this category as well. Mental harm can be the result of non-physical trauma, and in these cases, it is necessary for employees to provide evidence that the non-physical trauma was the direct result of work-related events that are more significant than the normal stresses that all employees experience on the job.
- Accidental injuries that happen unexpectedly and suddenly due to a job-related activity.
- Occupational diseases caused by chronic conditions of physical and/or mental harm resulting from continued exposure to a job-related condition, activity or substance. This can include skin diseases, respiratory diseases, deterioration of bodily function, back injuries and more.
Job-caused injuries and diseases are serious because they can prevent us from being able to continue doing our jobs and earning an income. If you, or a family member, are suffering from this kind of situation, help and financial assistance may be available via a successfully navigated workers' compensation claim. As such, Wisconsin residents suffering from job-related injuries and/or diseases may want to discuss their situations not only with their employers but also with a qualified workers' compensation lawyer.
Source: State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, "Wisconsin Worker's Compensation Guide," accessed Oct. 21, 2016