There are approximately 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes each year in the United States. According to the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, the majority of heart attacks and strokes that happen outside of hospitals occur in public settings, including workplaces.
Heart attacks and strokes are not generally compensable as workers' compensation injuries. However, in Georgia, an injured worker may be able to collect workers' compensation benefits if he—and his attorney—can prove “by a preponderance of competent and credible evidence” that the worker's employment duties caused or contributed to the condition.
Well-Documented Medical Records Are Essential
Workers' compensation claims for heart attacks or strokes must include extensively documented medical evidence, which can be provided by the doctor who treated the injured worker, or a non-treating physician who's been asked to give an opinion after reviewing the individual's medical records. Other, non-medical evidence used to support these types of Georgia workers' compensation claims include testimony from witnesses, as well as testimony from the injured worker.
Common lifestyle and genetic risk factors for heart attack and stroke include:
- Unhealthy diet
- Family history of heart attack or stroke
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Coronary artery disease
However, even workers who have modest to moderate lifestyle and genetic risk factors may still be able to collect workers compensation benefits for an on-the-job heart attack or stroke if they can show their job duties are physically demanding and include a lot of heavy lifting, or expose them to excessive heat or cold, or induce mental and emotional stress.
Consult an Experienced Workers' Compensation Attorney
If you suffered a heart attack or stroke in the workplace and believe that your work duties caused or contributed to your injuries, you may be entitled to collect workers' compensation benefits for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
The knowledgeable workers' compensation attorneys with Rechtman and Spevak can help you build a strong case. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a free initial case consultation.
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