Work Injury Claims for Orange County Firefighters

Committed Workers' Compensation Lawyers in Southern California

Firefighters often place themselves in dangerous situations that can result in both minor and major injuries. This is the nature of their job, and they make tremendous sacrifices to protect our community. When injuries occur while at work, these public servants both deserve and are legally entitled to collect worker's compensation as they recover. In the State of California, all firefighters are eligible for worker's compensation benefits, including apprentices, volunteers, and part-time employees.

Firefighters qualify for all types of worker's comp benefits, such as:

• Medical bills
• Partial lost wages
• Temporary and permanent disability
• Death benefits

What Types of Injuries & Illnesses Are Covered for Firefighters?

Due to the high-risk nature of the job, California law has been tailored to cover a wide range of injuries and illnesses for firefighters through worker's compensation.

This not only includes injuries sustained while fighting a fire, but through other daily activities at work as well, including training exercises, equipment maintenance, office work, and more. In addition to injuries that occur immediately while working, it also covers illnesses that occur due to working over a period of time, such as cancer, lung problems, heart conditions, tuberculosis, and pneumonia.

Representing Injured Firefighters & Their Families in Orange County

At Alvandi Law Group, P.C., we realize the significant risks that firefighters knowingly accept every day with bravery. As public servants dedicated to protecting those that they have never even met, they most certainly deserve to be properly taken care of in the event of an accident. Our team of Southern California workers' compensation lawyers is committed to assisting both these employees and their families in obtaining the benefits that they need to help them get through a difficult time.

Contact our office at (800) 980-6905 for more information about workers' compensation for firefighters.

Firefighter Workers’ Comp Claim FAQ

• Is PTSD covered?
  California workers’ compensation law actually allows for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to be covered in some situations. The key is that it must be shown through a medical diagnosis from a mental health professional that the PTSD experienced by the claimant is directly caused by or related to their work. As a firefighter who must endure a stressful work environment with severe dangers practically every day, it is not a stretch to imagine that the job can cause PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health difficulties.
• Is skin cancer covered?
  Recent legislative battles in California have improved workers’ compensation for various professionals who mostly work outdoors, including firefighters. Thanks to these updates, firefighters can be eligible for workers’ comp benefits if they are diagnosed with skin cancer. As with PTSD-related workers’ comp claims, the claimant must receive a medical diagnosis that concludes the skin cancer was caused by their work, not due to spending time outdoors in other capacities.
• Do you get workers’ comp if you know the work is dangerous?
  Yes, workers’ compensation benefits are not canceled just because you accept a job that is inherently dangerous, like firefighting. Indeed, when someone works in a dangerous profession, the argument can be made that they are especially deserving of workers’ comp if something goes wrong.
• Can you get workers’ comp after a crash in the fire engine?
  Workers’ compensation covers you as a firefighter whenever you are performing any work-related duty. It does not only apply when you are literally fighting a fire. In many situations, driving to the fire can be more dangerous because of unpredictable traffic conditions. If you were riding in your station’s fire engine when it got into a crash, then you can still file for workers’ compensation to take care of you while you recover from your injuries.
• Does workers’ comp apply when you’re injured while working during an emergency shift?
  As you know, firefighters are sometimes called in an emergency to help with a particularly dangerous blaze or situation. You can be resting at home on a planned vacation when duty calls you to come help save lives. If you get hurt while you are working an unscheduled emergency shift, you are still eligible for workers’ compensation coverage. Your benefits are based on your work, not on your schedule.