A job in law enforcement, firefighting, or corrections comes with risks that most other workers never have to think about. An injury can lead to stress, medical bills, and lost income; a workers’ compensation claim denial can create even more problems.
Bichler & Longo PLLC is committed to advocating for first responders and can help explain what options are available to you. A Jacksonville first responder workers’ compensation lawyer can assist if you have received a denial, your injury is being disputed, or there is an issue with the benefits you believe you should be receiving.
First responders don’t work in typical conditions. A police officer can get hurt during an arrest or while answering an emergency call. Firefighters face injuries on the fire line and in training, and some develop serious health problems after years on the job. Corrections officers can be pulled into a fight or another dangerous situation with almost no warning.
The circumstances surrounding an injury can make a difference in a workers’ compensation claim, as can the type of injury and the work performed by the employee. Having a first responder workers’ compensation attorney review your situation can give you a better idea of what you may be entitled to and how to proceed.
Florida law gives some first responders extra protection if they’re diagnosed with heart disease or high blood pressure. Florida Statute § 112.18 lets certain firefighters, police officers, and correctional officers presume that these conditions developed accidentally and on the job.
There’s a catch, though. You need to have passed a physical when you were hired, and that exam cannot have found any sign of the condition. Even then, your employer can challenge the presumption with competent evidence. A workers’ compensation attorney who works with Jacksonville first responders can tell you whether the law covers your situation.
A claim may involve more than establishing the underlying condition. Questions about medical care, lost wages, impairment benefits, and other workers’ compensation benefits may need to be addressed as well.
After a serious injury on the job, workers’ comp may not be your only option. Depending on what happened, you might also have a pension claim, a case for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or a personal injury lawsuit against someone outside your department.
Say a firefighter or police officer gets hurt in a car accident while on duty. Workers’ comp will likely come into play, but if another driver or some other party caused the crash, you may be able to sue them as well. These are separate claims with their own filing deadlines, legal rules, and available damages.
Pension and SSDI benefits work the same way. What you do with one claim can affect the others, so it is important to see how every avenue of compensation fits together before you accept or pursue any benefits. Bichler & Longo PLLC handles workers’ compensation cases for first responders every day, and our attorneys can show you how these benefits work alongside each other.
Getting hurt at work raises a lot of questions. Does your condition qualify for benefits? What benefits are you owed? What happens if the insurer denies your claim? Contact Bichler & Longo PLLC to set up a consultation. Our workers’ compensation lawyers can help first responders in Jacksonville, FL get the benefits they deserve, and we want to help you too.