Suffering an injury at work is hard enough, but you may find yourself in a situation where you're suffering more than one injury as a result of a single incident. Fortunately, you may seek compensation not only for your primary injury but also for a secondary injury caused by the first injury.

Common Situations Where You May Seek Additional Compensation

One example of a secondary injury is when you might use a particular arm or hand after an injury. Then, you may use the other arm or hand as a way to compensate. But if you use that arm or hand too often, you'll be more likely to injure it as well. 

Another situation is when you are forced to use crutches. The use of crutches might cause you to suffer a different injury. You might lose your balance, fall, and hurt yourself. Also, the use of crutches can lead to shoulder and elbow injuries. These type of secondary injuries are often not pursued because those who suffer these injuries simply assume that they cannot pursue them. Because the new injury can be traced back to the old injury, you'll have an easier time pursuing compensation for the new injury.

Workers' Compensation and Depression

Some workers become depressed as a result of an injury. This is another secondary injury that workers often assume will not be covered by workers' compensation insurance. However, because the depression might cause you to need to receive psychiatric treatment, you have every right to seek compensation for it. Most employers do not view depression as an injury within the context of work. However, most states still count depression as a type of injury covered under workers' compensation. 

Some workers think that it is difficult in their state to seek workers' compensation for depression. The confusion lies in the fact that there are two possible depression-related claims: primary job-related depression and secondary job-related depression. With primary job-related depression, the depression is the result of the stresses of the job and is independent of any injuries. While primary depression is often difficult to seek compensation for, it's much easier to seek compensation for secondary depression.

If you have suffered a second injury, you may be required to go to trial to fight for your rights. However, these cases are won more often than you might think, and you should consider contacting a workers' compensation attorney who can help you win your case— It never hurts to ask if you aren't sure about whether or not you may sue over a particular injury.