Firefighter or first responder injured in the line of duty? You put yourself in harm’s way for us. Are you being fairly compensated?
Your job is tough — rough on the back, muscles, ligaments, nerves, joints, lungs, and even your heart!
It’s more than fair that your workers’ compensation should cover all of the damages you suffer due to your job. However, some of your body’s wear and tear might be hard to see and possibly harder to prove.
Take your heart, for instance. While it’s busy pumping about 90 gallons of blood a minute, you may be giving it the shock of its life, inhaling burning chemicals from a burning vehicle or a building on fire. These toxins take their toll.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, in 2015 there were 94 firefighter fatalities in the line of duty. Sixty of those deaths were stress-induced — fifty-four of those fatalities due to a heart attack.
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/ff_fatalities_2015.pdf
In simple terms, heart attacks were responsible for at least half of the “line-of-duty” fatalities among firefighters in 2015!
So, if you’re a firefighter, you need your good doctor to be keeping a close eye on your heart health. The unique combination of stress and toxins you may be exposed to certainly make you a canidate for heart disease!
How can you make sure your workers’ compensation will cover you for any heart-related issues?
Good question! Heart disease is often not considered a workers’ compensation issue. Unfortunately, it’s a leading cause of death among firefighters!
While there are no guarantees in life, there are certain steps you can take to improve your chances of getting compensated for job-related heart issues or occupational disease.
- Ask your doctor to run baseline tests for heart disease. If you have evidence of a healthy heart to begin with, then changes in heart functions may be easier to trace to work-related hazards.
- Don’t ignore the many different possible signs of heart disease. Take time to go the doctor! WebMD lists more than a dozen symptoms, chest pains, squeezing, and tightness being only a couple of the many possible signs. https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-disease-symptoms#1
- Get an accountability partner for diet and exercise! If you have a certain amount of “proof” that you’ve been good, you have a better chance of being on the “nice” list, not the naughty. However, if you’re known to de-stress by always partying hard during your time off, this may not sit well those reviewing your workers’ compensation case!
If you know you’ve been exposed to carcinogens or experienced smoke inhalation in the line of duty, you need the help of a legal expert with your workers’ compensation case!
Heart disease or a heart attack could change the rest of your life. To survive, you will absolutely need time off of work to heal! Worrying about the future of your job only adds to the stress.
The Law Offices of Nathan A. Steimel, LLC will fight for you, firefighter or first responder ! They are licensed to handle workers’ compensation cases in both Missouri and Illinois. You will get a free and fair evaluation of your case when you call 636-244-3737.
http://steimel-law.com/workers-comp.html
Do you want the best possible outcome for your future and your family? Don’t let heart disease defeat you. Call 636-244-3737 today!
This website is designed for general information only. The information presented on this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice or the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.