Missouri firefighters are a brave and elite group of individuals who put their lives on the line every day to save the lives of others.
This is an occupation in which each man and woman selflessly puts themselves in dangerous situations with potentially tragic consequences. A firefighter who has been injured in the line of duty deserves to be compensated for the financial losses that result. If you have difficulty collecting your compensation claim, a Missouri workers’ compensation attorney at our law office would be honored to help.
Occupational Hazards Facing Firefighters in Missouri
Despite rigorous training, firefighters in Missouri still face severe injuries every time they respond to an emergency call. Some of the more common causes of injury include:
- Exposure to smoke and other toxic substances
- Automobile accidents
- Trips and falls
- Burn Injuries
- Back Injury from lifting excessive weight
- Falling debris
- Exposure to bodily fluids
The severity of injury varies depending on the circumstance. However, no matter how minor an injury may seem, a firefighter still needs to know that they can receive medical attention when needed as a part of their employment.
Volunteer Firefighters and Workers Compensation
Around the country and in Missouri, volunteers make up close to 70% of all firefighters. Working mainly in smaller communities, these men and women typically are paid a menial salary, if any at all, in exchange for the opportunity to put their safety at risk to save others. The very structure of these volunteer fire departments and the lack of money that most have made it challenging to ensure that each hard-working member will be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits in the event of an injury.
Insurance companies across Missouri struggle to do the right thing and insure these volunteers. The cost of treating firefighters’ severe injuries is usually far greater than the department can pay in premiums. This could lead to a premature cessation of benefits for an injured firefighter as the insurance company attempts to control its costs.
As a general rule, insurance companies avoid risk, ironically, the complete opposite of what a firefighter does. This can cause problems for volunteer departments that cannot afford to pay higher premiums yet need insurance to protect their firefighters. In contrast, the firefighters are busy protecting the community.
Workers Compensation for Injured Firefighters
If you are an injured firefighter who has had your benefits from workers compensation cut, speak with a Missouri workman’s compensation attorney about your claim. The desire for more profits from an insurance company, and the financial difficulties of your firehouse should have nothing to do with making sure that you are receiving quality medical care for your injury and receiving the benefits you are entitled to under Missouri law.
Call (314) 361-4300 for a free case evaluation
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