Firefighters are vital for keeping people safe and are among the first to respond to dangerous situations. Unfortunately, being a first responder comes with a lot of unique risks that most other people do not experience in a typical workday. Serious and even life-threatening work-related injuries are fairly common for firefighters.
Firefighters have the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits after getting hurt or sick—and you may even claim benefits under some circumstances where other people would not. Although state law makes it easier for firefighters in Florida to get workers’ compensation benefits, you should strongly consider help from the lawyers at Bichler & Longo if your claim hits some trouble.
Generally, workers’ compensation is designed to help people who get hurt or sick on the job by reimbursing certain financial losses they sustained. The Heart Bill streamlines the process for firefighters, as well as police and corrections officers, and offers benefits for hypertension, heart disease, or tuberculosis by presuming that condition developed on the job. That means you don’t have to offer detailed proof that the job caused the condition! These benefits can address medical expenses, disability, and lost wages.
Additionally, under Florida Statute § 112.1816, firefighters who are diagnosed with certain types of cancers will also have the benefit of the doubt in connecting it to their service, and treatment costs come from your employer’s group health insurance.
Despite these assurances, there are time when benefits are delayed or even denied. When this happens, our Florida attorneys take action to ensure a firefighter gets the workers’ compensation benefits they rightly deserve.
Unless you need emergency medical treatment right away, your first priority after becoming injured or ill while working as a firefighter should be notifying your immediate supervisor about the condition in writing. This is important because it will spur your employer to initiate the workers’ comp claims process on your behalf. If you fail to do this within two years after you become injured or ill, you may lose your opportunity to make a claim.
Typically, your employer should send a completed claim form to their insurance provider within three days of being notified of a qualifying injury or illness, and the insurance company should send out the first benefits check no later than 21 days after your initial notice. However, there are various reasons why an insurance company might deny certain necessary benefits or reject a claim outright. We can help Florida firefighters navigate these situations and improve your chances of success with your workers’ compensation claim.
Even if you wear protective gear and have extensive training, firefighting is still a hazardous job that can lead to serious illnesses. In recognition of that risk, state law makes it significantly easier for firefighters to seek workers’ comp benefits compared to workers in other fields.
As you may have found out, claims do not always go smoothly. Call us today to schedule a meeting with our Florida firefighter workers’ compensation lawyers and learn how we can help you obtain the benefits you deserve.