Bichler & Longo, PLLC Calls for Urgent Legislative Action to Fix Florida’s Failing PTSD Protections for First Responders

Monday, August 18, 2025 – Florida’s first responders are facing a mental health crisis that current laws fail to address, according to a new white paper released today by Geoff Bichler of Bichler & Longo, PLLC. The report, From the Front Lines of Law: Essential PTSD Reforms for First Responders, reveals that despite 2018 legislation designed to support first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), very few are able to access the benefits they are entitled to under Florida Statute §112.1815.

The paper highlights alarming statistics showing that 20–30% of first responders experience PTSD at rates up to six times higher than the general population and that systemic barriers in the law prevent them from obtaining care and benefits.

“These men and women risk their lives daily to protect our communities. When they suffer the psychological toll of that service, they should not have to fight an uphill legal battle just to get help,” said Geoff Bichler, founding partner of Bichler & Longo and a nationally recognized advocate for first responders. “Our current system is broken, and we have the roadmap to fix it.”

Bichler’s paper calls on Florida lawmakers to act swiftly, noting that the proposed changes would require no new bureaucracy, impose minimal fiscal impact, and align with the state’s intent to protect first responders.

To learn more about Bichler & Longo’s proposed reforms to Florida’s PTSD legislation, see link to white paper.

About Bichler & Longo, PLLC
Bichler & Longo is Florida’s leading law firm dedicated to representing first responders in workers’ compensation, disability, and pension matters. For over three decades, the firm has been at the forefront of legislative advocacy, litigation, and education to protect the rights of those who protect and serve our communities.