If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1If you or anyone else is in danger, call 911. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988.
- 2If you helped at the scene, check yourself too. People sometimes get hurt or exposed to blood while helping.
- 3Take a break from work if you can. Many employers offer time off or support after a serious incident; ask your supervisor.
- 4Talk to someone you trust, a coworker, family member or friend, about what happened.
- 5Ask whether your employer has an employee assistance program, peer support, or counseling after critical incidents.
- 6When you are ready, write down what you saw, when, and how you have been feeling since. It can help with both healing and any claim.
- 7Avoid making big decisions in the first days if you can. Shock can make everything feel urgent.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Workers in construction, manufacturing, mining and warehouses sometimes see coworkers caught in machines, fall from height, crushed or killed. Witnesses are often asked to give statements to investigators. That is different from reporting your own injury. If the event is affecting you, tell your employer in writing that you were a witness and that you are having trouble.
Whether a mental health condition from witnessing an injury is covered depends heavily on your state. Some states require a physical injury, some have specific rules for sudden traumatic events, and some have special rules for first responders. Ask your state's workers' compensation agency how it handles these claims.
Deadlines to report and to file vary by state, and for mental health conditions they may depend on when you were diagnosed or connected symptoms to the event. Do not wait too long to ask.
Keep notes on your symptoms, appointments and time missed, along with any written statements you gave.
Getting medical care
A licensed behavioral health clinician can talk with you about what you are experiencing and what kind of support may help. Occupational medicine clinicians can help coordinate care through a work claim. Only a clinician can decide what care fits. It can help to tell them about sleep, appetite, alcohol use and any changes in how you react to sounds or reminders at work.
Tell the clinician the event happened at work. Depending on your state and employer, you may need to start with a particular provider; your employer or the adjuster can tell you. Employee assistance programs can often help right away, before a claim is decided. If you also helped at the scene and were exposed to blood or got hurt, tell the clinician about that too.
If medication is prescribed, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-related prescriptions are handled. Home delivery is often available.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- Your claim for a mental health condition is denied or questioned because you were not physically hurt.
- You cannot return to the site or the machine where it happened.
- You are treated differently after asking for support or time off.
- The accident involved another company, which may raise third-party questions.
- You are asked to sign documents about the incident and want to understand them first.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Healing after witnessing something terrible takes time. Keep appointments and be honest with your clinician about sleep, mood, alcohol use and triggers. Anniversaries, sounds or returning to the same area can bring feelings back. That is common and worth planning for with your clinician.
Ask whether you can return gradually or to a different area, and share any restrictions with your employer in writing.
Stay connected with people who support you. If you feel worse, or have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 at any time.
Questions to ask
- Does our employer offer counseling or peer support after serious incidents?
- Can I take time off or return gradually?
- Who handles workers' comp claims for mental health conditions?
- Doctor, can you document how the event has affected me?
- Can I work in a different area for now?
- How are work-related prescriptions handled, and can they be delivered?
- Attorney, how does my state handle mental health claims for witnesses?
Frequently asked questions
Can I get workers' comp after I witnessed a coworker get badly hurt?
It may be possible, but rules vary a lot by state. Some states require a physical injury and others recognize sudden traumatic events. Ask your state's workers' compensation agency and talk with a clinician.
Is it normal to feel guilty after seeing a coworker get hurt?
Yes, guilt, shock and replaying the event are common reactions. You are not alone. Talking with a clinician or counselor can help.
Do I have to give a statement about the accident?
Investigators often ask witnesses for statements. It is reasonable to ask questions about how the statement will be used. You can ask to have a copy.
What if I cannot stop thinking about the accident?
Intrusive memories are common after a traumatic event. Tell a clinician how often they happen. Support is available.
Can I get counseling through work?
Many employers offer employee assistance programs or peer support. Ask your supervisor or HR. These can often help right away.
What should I do if I am having thoughts of suicide?
Call or text 988 right away. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger. You do not have to handle this alone.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).