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Workers' Compensation for Firefighters

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Workers’ Compensation For Firefighters In Maryland

If you’re a fire fighter, then you know that danger is a part of the job. Fire fighters are one of many public safety workers that the people of Baltimore rely upon and call in the most urgent, dire situations. But due to the demand for these public safety employees, there is an enormous number of workplace injuries and occupational illnesses, which is why it’s so important to understand your rights to workers’ compensation for firefighters in Maryland. According to data collected by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were almost 7,700 incident reports by firefighters in 2018 alone. Almost 85% of these firefighters lost time off work, were transferred to another job or worked under restrictions.

Police officers and fire fighters are eligible for disability compensation, according to the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC), specifically temporary total disability (TTD) for injuries they have suffered on the job. Within three days of beginning their disabilities, workers can start applying for these benefits; there is an exception if the ailment lasts more than 14 days. The state also has a limit on how much money workers can receive in benefits, limiting them to two-thirds of their weekly wage.

The workers’ compensation system in Maryland is designed to offer financial assistance in the event of an injury, and the rules provide benefits to qualifying first responders. If you’re a firefighter and have been injured on the job, contact Hyatt & Goldbloom today to speak with our Maryland workers’ compensation lawyer for firefighters. We offer 100% risk-free consultations where we can listen to your case and help prepare you on how to best proceed.

Who Is Considered A Firefighter?

An active fire fighter is a member of a well-respected fire department or organization that is qualified to respond to and put out fires and perform other fire department emergency services. If the firefighter has lung disease, hypertension, or lung disease as a result of employment, it’s assumed to have occurred on the job if the worker is:

A paid firefighter
A paid firefighting instructor
A paid rescue squad member
A paid advanced life support unit member
A member of the State Fire Marshal’s office employed by the state, airport authority, county, fire control district, or municipality

Some volunteer workers are also covered. However, they must have been in excellent health and become sick while performing their duties before they accepted the position. Examples of this group of public safety employees include people who became ill while working as volunteers include:

Volunteer firefighters
Volunteer firefighting instructors;
Volunteer rescue squad members
Volunteer advanced life support unit members who are covered employees

What Types of Compensation Can Firefighters Receive For Workplace Injuries?

If a firefighter is hurt on the job, he or she may be eligible for a variety of benefits under Maryland’s workers’ compensation for firefighters law. Some of the benefits that a firefighter may receive for an injury at work include the following:

Medical Care
Compensation for Lost Wages
Disability Compensation
Rehabilitation Costs

As with other worker’s compensation claims, a firefighter receives two-thirds of the typical weekly wage when he or she is out of work. A firefighter, on the other hand, may receive full compensation for missed earnings if he or she seeks administrative leave or sick leave instead of temporary total disability (TDD) payments. If you believe you are eligible for worker’s compensation for firefighters in Maryland, contact Hyatt & Goldbloom right away. Our legal team can investigate whether your department offers benefits that might compensate your lost wages in full instead of applying for TDD benefits.

Factors That Impact Maryland Workers’ Compensation For Firefighters

Firefighters and other public safety workers have two significant advantages under Maryland workers’ compensation laws due to the dangers they face on the job. These advantages include:

If you have certain illnesses, you are entitled to a legal presumption that your medical condition is an occupational disease. Because your employer’s workers’ comp insurance carrier has the responsibility of proving that your sickness is nonwork-related, you may benefit from this by obtaining approval for your claim.
You may be eligible for a larger amount of worker’s compensation disability benefits as a public safety professional. Every claim is unique, but your compensation could be two times greater than that of private sector workers.

Cancers Presumed To Have Occurred In The Line Of Duty

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, increased rates of specific types of cancer were discovered in a study of close to 30,000 firefighters in Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Respiratory, digestive, oral, and urinary cancers were the most common illnesses linked to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Firefighters had a 2.4 times higher incidence of malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure that was frequently used as insulation, roofing materials, siding materials, and floor tiles in structures.

A federal agency found that younger fire fighters have a higher incidence of certain malignancies, including Bladder and Prostate cancer. The chances of developing lung cancer or leukemia rose with the amount of time they spent responding to fires, according to the federal agency. There are several types of cancer that are caused by firefighting. These include:

Leukemia
Throat cancer
Rectal cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Prostate cancer
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Breast cancer

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Deadline To File A Worker’s Compensation For Firefighters Claim in Maryland?

If you are retired, you may still be able to submit a claim for one of these illnesses if you worked as a fireman. Furthermore, certain firefighters who were diagnosed with one of these problems before joining the force may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Firefighters who have been diagnosed with cancer, heart disease, or high blood pressure should take action to preserve their right to file a workers’ comp claim.

Consulting with a Maryland workers’ compensation lawyer for firefighters is an excellent place to start in ensuring that you get the benefits you deserve under Maryland’s Workers’ Compensation Statute. You may still be eligible even if you retired 20 years ago, no matter how long you have worked in the fire department. You might also be eligible if you had high blood pressure or a heart condition before joining the firehouse. Simply said, if you are a firefighter and have previously been diagnosed with any of these conditions, contact Hyatt & Goldbloom today.

What If I Think I Caused My Injury?

Workers’ compensation for firefighters in Maryland is a no-fault system that covers even work-related injuries. However, there are exceptions for situations where the employee was negligent and caused the accident. If you were injured while on the job, do not let the fact that you made a mistake prevent you from submitting a claim. Workers’ compensation insurance specifically covers employees in situations like these.

Employers are immune from civil lawsuits due to the workers’ compensation system, which is the procedure through which injured people must go in order to obtain compensation. The cost to employees is that, while they are not permitted to bring a personal injury lawsuit, they can receive payments even if they were careless and their employer was not. While the compensation for a negligence claim is typically higher than that offered by workers’ compensation, many injured employees would not be able to establish that their employer was negligent and would lack work-related injuries coverage unless they had workers’ compensation.

Contact A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer For Fighters

If you’re a Maryland firefighter who has sustained injuries or an illness on the job, Hyatt & Goldbloom can help. When you’re dealing with the workers’ compensation system on your own, it may be tough. We are happy to assist you with your workers’ compensation for firefighters claim in Maryland. Our workers’ compensation lawyers will examine your situation and provide you with the best resources and information to file your claim. Our firm will do everything we can to ensure you get the compensation you’re entitled to. You shouldn’t have to fight financially after putting your life on the line to keep our community safe. Contact Hyatt & Goldbloom today for a free consultation.