New Jersey Firefighter Injury Lawyer

Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Assisting Victims Throughout New Jersey

People who earn their living as firefighters face certain inherent dangers. Common firefighter injuries include smoke inhalation, burns, and back injuries from heavy lifting. These and other injuries incurred during the course and scope of work as a firefighter are usually compensable under New Jersey’s workers’ compensation laws. The injured employee, however, has certain obligations during the process of seeking benefits such as medical care, temporary disability benefits, or payment for a permanent disability. If these obligations are not met, his or her claim may be in jeopardy. If you or a loved one works as a firefighter and has been injured on the job, a New Jersey firefighter injury lawyer at New Jersey Workers Compensation Lawyer of JFM Law is here to help with your claim.

The first step in any workers’ compensation case is for the injured worker to give notice of his or her injury to the employer (preferably to a supervisor or someone in the personnel office). Even if the injury or accident seems obvious, it is still important to have this conversation to make sure that the employer files a report of the injury with its insurance carrier and the appropriate state officials. Most workers’ compensation claims are handled primarily by the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier after the initial notice of injury, but some cities, counties and municipalities are self-insured, so this process may be slightly different for firefighters and other public employees than for people who work for private corporations, limited liability companies or sole proprietorships.

The Process Of Seeking Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Once it has been notified of a work-related injury or illness, the employer has an obligation to provide reasonable and necessary medical treatment for the employee’s injuries at its expense. The employee is not responsible for payment of his or her work-related medical expenses as long as he or she sees an authorized physician. If an injury is severe enough that the firefighter cannot work temporarily, a firefighter injury attorney in New Jersey can help the victim pursue temporary total disability benefits. Typically, temporary disability benefits replace part, but not all, of an injured employee’s lost wages while he or she is recuperating from a work-related accident or illness. Temporary disability benefits are subject to a minimum and maximum that is set by the state and adjusted annually. Generally speaking, temporary disability benefits end when the employee reaches a point of maximum medical improvement.

Reach out online or call (934) 200-5372 today for your free consultation.