Seizures can happen suddenly and unexpectedly at workplaces, leaving both the employee and employer uncertain about how to handle the situation. The World Health Organization states that up to 10 percent of individuals worldwide will experience at least one seizure in their lifetime. However, when a seizure happens at work, you might question whether it qualifies for workers’ compensation.
At such times, it is advisable to understand the Minnesota workers’ compensation system and its applicability to medical conditions like seizures to seek benefits. A Minnetonka, MN workers’ compensation attorney at a trusted personal injury and workers’ compensation law firm can listen to you and advise you accordingly on seeking your deserved benefits.
In this post, we will explore more about seizures and the potential for workers’ compensation claims related to workplace seizures in Minnesota.
A seizure is an uncontrolled electrical disruption in the brain that may cause sudden changes in one’s behavior, movements, feelings, or consciousness. Seizures can vary in intensity, from brief lapses of awareness to severe convulsions. They are typically categorized into two types:
Focal seizures (or partial) seizures affect one specific part of the brain and may cause symptoms such as muscle twitching, sensory changes, or brief episodes of altered consciousness. On the other hand, generalized seizures involve both sides of the brain from the onset and can lead to more widespread effects, including loss of consciousness, convulsions, and muscle stiffness.
Seizures are usually unpredictable, which makes them complex when they occur at work. The physical and emotional toll of a seizure, as well as the potential for injury during or after the event, can create complications that workers and employers must navigate, particularly when determining eligibility for workers’ compensation.
Seizures are triggered by a variety of underlying conditions or external factors. Understanding the root cause of an individual’s seizure activity is key in building your case. Some of the most common causes include:
Different causes of seizures have different implications for a workers’ compensation claim, depending on how and why the seizure occurred in the workplace.
Whether a seizure qualifies for workers’ compensation depends on whether the condition is work-related. For a successful workers’ compensation claim in Minnesota, the injury or medical condition must have occurred “in the course of” and “arising out of” employment. This means the seizure needs to be caused by work conditions or exacerbated by the job.
For example, if an employee’s seizure was triggered by a workplace accident, such as a head injury, they are likely eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if the seizure was caused by an unrelated medical condition such as epilepsy, workers’ compensation benefits may be withheld unless it is demonstrated that work conditions aggravated the pre-existing condition. Employees may also receive workers’ comp if they suffered an injury while having a seizure, such as falling, even if the seizure was not directly work-related.
Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system aims to offer financial reprieve to workers who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. Workers’ compensation in Minnesota offers the following benefits:
Minnesota workers’ comp is a no-fault system, which means no need to prove that their employer was negligent to receive benefits. However, you must demonstrate that the injury or condition was work-related. In the case of seizures, you might need to provide medical documentation linking the condition to the work environment or proving that the seizure or subsequent injury occurred while performing job duties.
If your workers’ compensation faces denial for whatever reason, you can appeal the decision with the help of a Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney. The claims process can be tricky, especially when dealing with complex medical conditions like seizures.
If you or a loved one has suffered a seizure at work and are unsure whether you qualify for workers’ compensation, you need to seek legal counsel immediately. At Schmidt & Salita Law Firm, our Minnetonka, MN workers’ compensation attorneys have a rich history of handling such cases. Therefore, we will delve into the facts of your case to determine if your seizure at work is a workers’ comp case. Contact us today at (952) 473-4530 for a free case evaluation to inform you of your rights and options.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Dean M. Salita, with more than 30 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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