A stroke occurs when the blood supply to an area of the brain is completely cut off. The brain cells found in the affected area of the brain slowly start to die due to lack of oxygen, which leads to serious long-term consequences. For example, a stroke that affects the area of the brain that controls memory could affect the victim’s ability to store new information in the future.
Long-term brain damage like this could severely impact a victim’s ability to perform his job duties. If you need to take a leave of absence after suffering a stroke, it’s important to understand whether or not you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for your condition.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits For A Stroke
It is possible to receive workers’ compensation benefits for a stroke. However, this does not mean that anyone who suffered a stroke is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits from their employer. To recover workers’ compensation for a stroke, you must be able to prove that your work caused this cerebrovascular accident.
The law states that victims must show that the level of exertion that caused their stroke was “extraordinary and unusual” compared to the level of exertion that is typically needed to perform their job duties. In simpler terms, this means a stroke is not a compensable injury unless it can be proven that it occurred around the same time you were under an intense and unusual amount of physical or exertional stress at work.
Use Medical Documentation As Evidence
Do not assume that you will be approved for benefits simply because you were under a great deal of stress at the time of the stroke. You must use medical documentation to establish the link between your work and the stroke in order to recover workers’ compensation benefits. Make sure the documentation paints a clear picture for the insurance company so they understand why and how your work directly caused the cerebrovascular accident.
Have you suffered a stroke? If you believe it was work-related, contact Armstrong & Vaught, P.L.C. at once. It’s not easy to recover workers’ compensation benefits for a stroke, which is why you need an experienced attorney from our team on your side. Call us at (918) 582-2500 or toll-free at (800) 722-8880 or complete the simple form below for a free consultation with a skilled attorney.