Lutherville Firefighters, Paramedics & EMTs Injury Attorney
Firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs work in stressful and risky professions. These individuals respond to the scenes of emergencies and frequently put themselves in danger as part of their work. Emergency responders are injured tens of thousands of times every year. Americans rely on these workers to help them when they are most in need. It is vital that we provide protections to these employees when they suffer injuries in the course of their employment.
At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP, our Lutherville, Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys have been representing Maryland’s first responders and others injured in workplace accidents for more than 30 years. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that a work-related incident can cause an employee. If you were injured in the course of your job, you have the right to collect compensation that will help you cover your medical bills and support your and your loved ones throughout that difficult time. Call 410-769-5400 today to speak to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.
Common Firefighter, Paramedic, and EMT Injuries in Lutherville, Maryland
The nature of work for emergency responders means that these workers may be called to the scenes of dangerous situations every time they show up to do their jobs. One common cause of injury for emergency responders is car crashes. Fire Department vehicles were involved in 14,425 collisions in 2018. Many firefighters suffered injuries in the course of these accidents. Car crashes are also the fourth most common cause of EMT work-related injuries. Other tasks emergency responders perform also create a high risk of injuries. Many job-related tasks for these workers are extremely physical and involve lifting heavy objects. Strains, sprains and other overexertion-related injuries are common for emergency responders.
Certain illnesses are also linked to work-related activities and exposure for firefighters. For many employees, obtaining workers’ compensation to cover illnesses can be challenging. Proving a link between a person’s job and illness is difficult. However, firefighters will have an easier time linking certain conditions to their work. Certain forms of cancer, lung disease, and hypertension are known to be common conditions in firefighters. Therefore, insurance coverage is more likely to apply for firefighters who suffer these illnesses than those who suffered the same illnesses related to other types of work. Workers sometimes learn that obtaining workers’ compensation coverage is more challenging than they originally anticipated. It is a good idea to reach out to a Lutherville, Maryland workers’ compensation attorney in these cases.
No-fault Injuries and Workers’ Compensation in Lutherville, Maryland
In Lutherville, Maryland, workers’ compensation benefits apply to injuries that occur in the course of a person’s employment regardless of whether someone is legally at fault for those injuries. For instance, even if you did something careless that led to your injuries, you should still be able to collect compensation through workers’ compensation insurance. However, suppose you were injured in an incident related to work which the employer or a co-worker did cause. In that case, you will not likely be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person who caused the injuries. This is the tradeoff created by the workers’ compensation system. Your employer does not face the risk of frequent and costly personal injury lawsuits. Still, employees who suffer injuries at work do not have to prove negligence in order to collect benefits.
Workers’ compensation benefits often are lesser amounts than a person can obtain in a successful personal injury lawsuit. However, many people who collect workers’ compensation would not be able to recover in a personal injury lawsuit in which it would be necessary to prove negligence.
What Damages Can I Collect Through Workers’ Compensation in Lutherville, Maryland
In Lutherville, Maryland, an injured emergency responder can collect benefits, including medical expenses, lost wages, and vocational training in certain circumstances. The benefits will vary depending on the severity and nature of a person’s injuries. If a worker dies on the job, the family should be able to recover death benefits through workers’ compensation. Unlike personal injury lawsuits, injured workers cannot collect for their pain and suffering.
What to Do When Workers’ Compensation Insurers Deny Claims
If your claim for workers’ compensation benefits is denied, you have the right to appeal. There are many reasons why an insurer may deny a claim. Sometimes denials are based on technicalities. Other times, insurers might suspect that the claimant’s injuries were not caused at work. If you filed what you believe is a valid claim for workers’ compensation and the insurance company denied benefits, contact a Lutherville, Maryland workers’ compensation attorney to learn more about your options for appealing the insurance company’s decisions.
Lutherville Firefighters, Paramedics, and EMTs, Call Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP for Help With a Workers’ Compensation Claim
At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP, our dedicated workers’ compensation attorneys have been working for decades to protect workers’ rights in Lutherville, Maryland. Call us at 410-769-5400 to discuss your claim.
