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Workers' Compensation for Correctional Officers
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Workers’ Compensation For Correctional Officers In Maryland
Working as a corrections officer is a demanding and sometimes life-threatening career. According to one research, corrections officers suffer 36 times the rate of violent assaults and injuries when compared to normal workers in the United States. If you work as a Maryland corrections officer, you already know that your job comes with a slew of dangers and that you face workplace hazards on a daily basis. It’s critical to understand your legal rights and how you are protected if an incident at work results in death.
Maryland corrections officers are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. These incentives are designed to ease the burden on injured public safety employee and their family. Contact Hyatt & Goldbloom right away if you are a Maryland correctional officer and have been injured or sickened as a result of your profession.
Latest Update: Workers’ Compensation For Public Safety Employees In Maryland
On May 15, 2018, Maryland’s governor, Larry Hogan, signed House Bill 205 into law. Correctional employees are now included in the state’s definition of “public safety personnel,” allowing for enhanced workers’ compensation claims if they become injured or ill on the job. The bill, sponsored by Delegate Luke Clippinger from Baltimore City District 46 and introduced in January 2019, extends benefits to workers’ compensation claims submitted after October 1, 2018, under the state’s Workers’ Compensation insurance program.
“If a public safety employee is awarded compensation for less than 75 weeks, the employer or its insurer shall pay the public safety employee compensation at the rate set for an award of compensation for a period greater than or equal to 75 weeks but less than 250 weeks….”
Injuries That Corrections Officers Can Get Compensation For
The overwhelming majority of occupational injuries are covered regardless of who is at fault. Correctional officers are often injured as a result of their duties. They may break up a fight, be assaulted by an inmate, or become ill after coming into contact with bodily fluids. Due to the heightened risk to their health and safety, workers’ compensation for correctional officers in Maryland has become a hot topic.
Work-related diseases like heart disease and hypertension are considered to be unavoidable. This presumption, however, is currently only valid for employees working for Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, and Prince George’s County. If you work in one of these jurisdictions, you are assumed to have an occupational disease if:
- You have been diagnosed with heart disease or hypertension
- Your condition causes partial or total disability
- Your condition is more severe than it was before you started the job
- You submitted to a medical exam to determine the extent of your illness before you were hired
The Workers’ Compensation Commission will only accept the presumption of an occupational disease if all four of these conditions are satisfied. If your claim was denied, contact a Maryland workers’ compensation lawyer for correctional officers immediately.
Occupational Diseases That Affect Correctional Officers
Workers’ Comp Benefits for Maryland Correctional Officers
If your circumstances qualify you then you may be able to get one or more of the following benefits under Maryland law:
- Your current therapy, as well as any you may need in the future, will be covered by Medicare.
- If you’re out of work while recuperating from your injuries, you may be eligible for wage replacement that equates to a percentage of your lost income.
- Disability, whether permanent or temporary, is defined here as a restriction in limb movement or sensation.
- This could be anything from counseling to job coaching. Vocational rehabilitation may include training, education, and related services in the area of employment.
Workers’ Compensation Advantages for Correctional Officers
Beyond the benefits offered to qualified workers in the private sector, there are two separate criteria that benefit public safety employees who fulfill the statutory definition of a public safety employee.
- For certain health issues, you may be assumed to have an occupational disease based on the law. Unless the insurance firm disproves the presumption, it’s likely that your workers’ compensation claim will be accepted if you have heart disease, hypertension, or other officially designated illnesses.
- As a federal or state employee, you may receive more disability payments as a jail guard. Certain public safety workers may obtain as much as twice the compensation other individuals in the private sector would get for the same medical condition.
Contact A Maryland Workers’ Compensation Attorney For Correctional Officers
We can assist you in receiving the workers’ compensation that you are entitled to if you work as a corrections officer or public safety employee and have been injured on the job. Workers’ compensation for correctional officers in Maryland is best handled by an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer. At Hyatt & Goldbloom, we will review the specifics of your case and advocate for you, as well as walk you through the workers’ compensation process to ensure that you are on an equal footing with the insurance companies. To schedule a free consultation, contact our office today to learn more about how we can help.