Understanding Your Benefits After A Work Injury
In general, workers’ compensation provides medical benefits, disability benefits, and occupational retraining benefits. For first responders specifically, the law presumes that certain injuries and illnesses are work-related and are therefore covered by workers’ compensation. These work-related conditions include:
- Heart disease
- Hernia
- Cancer, including leukemia
- Biochemical exposures
- Bloodborne infectious diseases
- Meningitis
- Lyme disease
For officers who wear a duty belt, the law also presumes that certain back injuries and lumbar issues are work-related. However, an officer must have been employed for at least five years for this presumption to apply.
Additionally, first responders are eligible for full salary through workers’ compensation for one year after a job-related injury. The workers’ comp wage benefit for other kinds of workers is capped at two-thirds salary. A San Bernardino lawyer could explain the benefits a first responder could receive through workers’ compensation.
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