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Although there have been vast improvements in workplace safety in recent years, some jobs are simply riskier and more dangerous than others. Firefighters understand the perils they face, but they still have the right to expect fair treatment after suffering workplace injuries.
Employers, including cities and counties, are responsible for paying workers’ compensation benefits to injured workers, including firefighters. If you have a concern about receiving your rightful benefits after suffering an on-the-job injury, a San Diego firefighter workers’ compensation lawyer might be able to help. Our hardworking worker’s comp attorneys are standing by to help you navigate the complexities of the legal system.
Each time firefighters respond to a call, they put their lives on the line. While performing their job duties, they might suffer injuries like:
These injuries can come from anywhere. Burns and smoke inhalation damage can occur from fires. Other injuries can occur from lifting heavy objects, such as firehoses. Some firefighters hurt themselves by slipping on wet floors. Firefighters who work as paramedics also put themselves at risk of exposure to their patients’ illnesses. Some serious injuries can even happen in a vehicle crash on the way to a call.
Experienced San Diego attorneys have had success helping firefighters recover compensation for a wide range of work injuries. They understand how costly medical expenses and lost wages can hinder a firefighter’s recovery and they use this knowledge to pursue substantial monetary damages.
Workers’ compensation benefits reimburse firefighters for their job-related injuries. For instance, firefighters who suffer on-the-job injuries might be eligible to collect payments for their reasonable medical expenses. They might also be eligible to collect temporary disability benefits if an accident leaves them unable to work. If their injury results in a long-term, severe disability, they might be able to collect permanent disability payments to cover their lost wages.
It is key to understand that firefighters do not need to prove that the employer did something to cause their injury. California has enacted presumptions, which are workers’ comp laws that protect public safety officers. Instead of having to prove that their injury is job-related, if a firefighter sustains a certain type of injury or illness, California law presumes that they were hurt on the job and recognizes that they have a valid workers’ compensation claim.
If a third party did something to contribute to a firefighter’s injury, an experienced attorney could help this person proceed with a separate third-party claim for compensation. For instance, if defective machinery or faulty equipment left a firefighter hurt, a skilled lawyer in San Diego could investigate the accident and help file a third party claim against a product manufacturer or retailer.
Firefighters are among the bravest of all workers. They face dangerous situations every day. When they suffer an on-the-job injury, they deserve reimbursement for their medical expenses and lost wages. Unfortunately, state and local governments are sometimes hesitant to pay workers’ compensation benefits. They might try to avoid or delay paying what is due.
A San Diego firefighter workers’ compensation lawyer has extensive experience helping injured public safety workers get the compensation they need and deserve. If you have questions about your legal rights after suffering a workplace injury, get in touch with a skilled attorney to discuss your claim.