If you sustained an injury or illness in the workplace, you may qualify for hair treatment therapy as part of your workers compensation benefits package. When an injury claim is filed with the Workers Compensation Board, very often ancillary damages will be excluded from the benefits offered to the injured employee. This is not right as the worker should receive benefits for all of their damages, not just a percentage of them. Hair loss attributed to a workplace injury is a real loss for the individual and it can lead to additional damages such as debilitating depression. A knowledgeable workers compensation lawyer can determine if there is the injured worker’s hair loss is directly correlated to the workplace injury or illness. In consultation with medical professionals, the lawyer can provide information from the worker’s medical diagnosis with additional proof in the workers compensation claim. Generally, the more proof and documentation that is included, the higher likelihood that the claim will be accepted. In cases where the insurance carrier denies the claim, or else refuses to offer a fair benefits package, the worker may choose to pursue litigation against the employer and/or their workers compensation insurance carrier.
Hair Loss and Workplace Illnesses or Accidents
Hair loss is an unfortunate side effect and result of many workplace illnesses and accidents. It can happen in any number of ways, including these:
· Exposure to toxic substances such as asbestos, chemicals, gasses, etc. can cause short or long term hair loss.
· Trauma from a physical injury can cause hair loss. In addition to injuries in the scalp region, if an individual’s body undergoes tremendous shock due to the loss of a limb or other catastrophic injury, the body may react in many ways, including hair loss.
· Trauma as a result of significant medical treatment such as surgery can cause hair loss.
· Trauma as a result of the use of anesthetic during surgery can cause hair loss.
Hair Treatment Therapy Options
Not every hair treatment therapy is an option for everyone. Very often, various factors in the individual’s life come into play that may prevent them from being a candidate of one form of treatment over another. In some cases, the treatment that a hair doctor may recommend could consist of a change of diet in conjunction with taking certain nutritive supplements. In other cases, hair treatment surgery may the only option. It is necessary to undergo an exam and provide a patient history to the doctor for an accurate diagnosis. There are three main hair treatment options, each of which has proven to be very effective:
1. Platelet rich plasma (PRP). This form of treatment involves taking a small sampling of the patient’s blood and then separating the platelet rich plasma. That plasma is then injected by the hair doctor into the patient’s scalp where hair has thinned or fallen out. Results can be seen after a period of time but are permanent.
2. A hair transplant. In today’s world, hair transplant surgery has advanced significantly and is now used by women as well men to combat hair loss and thinning.
3. Low light laser treatment. A specially designed laser is used to treat the patient’s hair loss in a painless therapy that can reverse their condition.
Learn more about how hair treatment therapy may be included in your workers compensation benefits package by contacting a lawyer.
Resources:
Wikipedia, Hair Treatment
