A Disability Attorney in Olympia, WA Helps When an Injury Causes or Worsens Serious Mental Illness

by | Mar 3, 2014 | Lawyers and Law Firms

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A person who has been injured on the job or elsewhere and cannot return to work for a lengthy time frame may need a Disability Attorney in Olympia, WA. Sometimes a disability involves a mental health problem that has resulted from the injury or has worsened because of it. A law firm such as Putnam, Lieb, Potvin can help when an individual has been denied disability payments because the agency disputes his mental health issue.

Traumatic events can be triggers for the onset or worsening of serious conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder. Large numbers of initial claims for disability are denied for various reasons, including a lack of certain information from the claimant or documentation by physicians. When an individual is dealing with a serious mental health disorder, filing a disability claim can be extremely difficult and exhausting. Receiving assistance and legal representation from a Disability Attorney in Olympia, WA can make all the difference in whether an initial claim is approved. If the claimant has already filed a claim and it has been denied, he may contact Putnam, Lieb, Potvin for a consultation.

The law firm may advise the client to have his regular doctor schedule an appointment with a neurologist. This specialty physician may detect evidence of a brain injury resulting from the accident. That injury may have previously gone undiagnosed. The individual will likely need to have further evaluation by additional doctors, including at least one psychiatrist. In some disability cases, a mental examination by a clinical psychologist is sufficient. However, when an individual may have a serious mental illness, evaluation by a psychiatrist is important. The evaluation will help determine whether the individual understands and follows instructions, has significant memory problems or shows evidence of severely distorted thinking.

With legal representation provided by a Disability Attorney at Putnam, Lieb, Potvin of Olympia, WA, the individual can begin getting the help he deserves. Disability payments are provided retroactive to the initial filing date if the claim had previously been denied and an appeal is approved. With this financial compensation, the person can pursue better treatment for his condition and have a more solid chance of returning to productive work.