Workers' Compensation for EMTs & Paramedics

Workers’ Compensation For EMTs In Maryland

Every day, emergency medical personnel (EMTs), paramedics, ambulance drivers, and other emergency workers risk their lives to people in danger or injured in Maryland. They preserve lives but are frequently put in dangerous situations as a result of doing so. EMTs may be seriously injured or even killed in traffic accidents while traveling to or from the site of an accident or by a patient they are attempting to help. The circumstances may differ, but the end result is always the same: a public safety professional is now harmed and faces an uncertain, unstable future.

Workers’ compensation benefits for public safety employees are available to EMTs, police officers, firefighters, and other first responders, although collecting such compensation is anything but simple. Claims may be undervalued, delayed, or denied. Workers’ compensation for EMTs in Maryland typically does not cover emotional distress, and it seldom covers all of a claimant’s lost wages. An experienced Maryland workers’ compensation lawyer can help you navigate the workplace injury legal system while also seeking additional sources of money through personal injury litigation. Contact Hyatt & Goldbloom today for a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.

Common Causes Of EMT And Paramedic Injuries

According to the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 9% of EMTs and paramedics in the United States are absent from work at any one moment due to occupational injuries or sickness. This proportion is generally about 1.3% of the general public. To avoid such injuries, safety precautions are taken; however, they are not inexhaustible, and they are sometimes disregarded or implemented incorrectly. Workers in Maryland can get harmed on the job. First responders, on the other hand, face a variety of specific dangers in their line of work, some of which can result in catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. Some of the most common injuries that EMTs and paramedics suffer include the following:

Assaults

Physical assaults are not uncommon among first responders In the United States, more than 57,000 first responders were physically assaulted on duty in 2016 alone.

Auto Accidents

In a 2014 study from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, first responders were found to be more likely to be killed in a car accident or truck accident while responding to events than in a fire or as the result of gunshot wounds.

Exposure To Chemicals And Toxins

First responders can be exposed to hazardous toxins and poisons when dealing with natural disasters, chemical spills, industrial accidents, or other occurrences. One of the many reasons why workers’ compensation for EMTs in Maryland is a necessary aid that first responders must take advantage of if applicable.

Overexertion Injuries

Duties as a first responder might be quite physically demanding. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association, 42% of all firefighter deaths in 2016 were caused by overexertion, stress, and medical causes.

Mental And Emotional Trauma

Law enforcement, EMTs, and firefighters who are exposed to traumatic occurrences or events may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or mental health problems as a result of their experience.

EMTs and paramedics want to trust that their employer (typically their department or municipality) will deal with their workers’ compensation claim fairly in the event of an injury on the job. You need to have faith that your employer will care for you and ensure that you receive all of the benefits available for your injuries and losses. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case and you must understand how workers’ compensation for EMTs in Maryland works to recover what you are owed. An insurance adjuster’s first goal is to save your employer money, so their decision about how many benefits you receive—if any at all—depends on how much money they can save for your business. Working with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer for EMTs is critical to protect yourself.