What Are Idiopathic Injuries And How Do They Affect A Workers’ Comp Claim?

Though often unserved, justice matters. Justice is especially important when it comes to hardworking people. Georgia workers hurt while on the job deserve financial compensation, medication, and more. Our Georgia workers’ comp attorney will be your guide to idiopathic injuries in the context of workers’ compensation claims.

The Basics of Idiopathic Injuries in Georgia

The word “idiopathic” connotes mystery as it refers to something that arises from an unknown cause. Idiopathic injuries are those that manifest spontaneously without a direct cause.

No single workplace duty can be identified as the source of pain or illness. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to establish a causal relationship between the idiopathic injury and one’s workplace duties.

As an example, a Georgia worker who suffers a seizure while performing manual labor has an idiopathic injury. The cause of the seizure might be one or several of the following:

• Heat
• Sun exposure
• Chemical exposure
• Something else

Even a fall from an elevated height without a direct cause constitutes an idiopathic injury. In some instances, Georgia workers faint, become dizzy, or vomit without a single specific cause. Moreover, a heart attack or other sudden health problem suffered at work also constitutes an idiopathic injury.

Workers’ Compensation Overview

Georgia workers’ compensation laws are on the books to provide monetary indemnification for the following:

• The loss of use of specific body sites
• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity and more

The laws also provide opportunities to obtain medication and durable medical equipment to treat sickness or injury caused by labor.

The challenge lies in establishing a causal relationship between injury or illness and one’s workplace duties. A pre-existing injury does not fall under the umbrella of Georgia workers’ compensation laws. The injury or illness must have been caused by work duties or those related to work. Otherwise, the injury is not compensable.

Idiopathic Injuries in Workers’ Comp Claims

Idiopathic injuries are unique in that they do not have a direct workplace or work-related cause. It is possible for a fall, seizure, heart attack, or fainting to be caused by a combination of factors, some or all of which are work-related. In contrast, specific injuries that are work-related such as stepping on a nail while working at a construction site have a clear causal relationship.

The complexities of Georgia idiopathic injury cases have the potential to result in a trial. Some cases escalate to the Georgia Court of Appeals for additional review. The 2021 Stoker v. Walker County Board of Education case involved a substitute teacher claiming workers’ compensation benefits. The teacher fell when guiding her students down a hall toward the cafeteria.

Stoker insists no object, rug, or other item in the hall caused her to trip. She also stated she did not fall after slipping on anything sticky or wet. Moreover, Stoker insists she is not aware of what, exactly, caused the fall or why it occurred. As a claimant, Stoker has the legal burden of proving the claim is compensable in accordance with Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws.

The Georgia Court of Appeals ultimately ruled Stoker failed to meet the burden and was not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. There was no discernible hazard at Stoker’s place of work, meaning the alleged injury had no causal relationship to workplace activities, ultimately making it incompensable.

As another example, consider the Cartersville City Schools vs. Johnson case. Johnson, a teacher, argued her fall while walking from her desk to the front of the classroom constituted an idiopathic injury. The case made it to the Appellate Division where it was determined the fall was idiopathic.

The Superior Court then ruled the fall was not idiopathic as there was no evidence that the injury arose from workplace duties. The Superior Court stated the lower Appellate Division ruling’s logic would allow for any injury to be idiopathic, including merely walking.

Therefore, it is safe to assume if the idiopathic injury is not at least partially caused by a specific workplace action relevant to a narrow scope of job-relevant duties, it is not guaranteed to qualify as idiopathic.

Challenges of Idiopathic Injury Claims

The primary hurdle of a Georgia idiopathic injury case is proving the causal link between the injury and work-related duties. As an example, it is challenging to prove workplace duties caused or contributed to a heart attack, seizure, or other idiopathic injury.

Some insurers will deny the initial attempt to obtain monetary indemnity payments, durable medical equipment, and/or medication, insisting the idiopathic injury has no causal relationship to workplace activity.

Supporting documentation in the form of a medical report that establishes a causal relationship is often enough to obtain workers’ compensation coverage. Moreover, testimony from medical professionals and even co-workers will also help establish the causal relationship necessary to obtain coverage.

Role of a Workers’ Compensation Attorney

The quality of your workers’ compensation attorney has the potential to matter more than the facts of your case. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney who has fiercely advocated on behalf of injured Georgia workers might be the x-factor that tips the scales of justice in your favor.

Choose an experienced Georgia workers’ compensation attorney skilled at establishing causal relationships between idiopathic injuries and the workplace, provide all requested information, and relax.

Your attorney will gather and review evidence, interview eyewitnesses, obtain medical reports, and zealously advocate on your behalf to obtain coverage.

Learn More During a Consultation With Our Georgia Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

Have you suffered an idiopathic injury or other work-related injury or illness in Georgia? Your path to indemnity payments, durable medical equipment, medication, and more begins with an initial consultation. Contact us today to schedule your case review.