None are more vulnerable to illness right now than those working on the front lines of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Firefighters, police officers, and EMTs who respond to emergency calls may be exposed to the most severe cases of COVID-19 without the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to keep them safe. It’s expected many Americans will contract the virus but compared to those of us who can participate in social distancing, first responders are at a much higher risk.
On top of the severe medical challenges some patients face, employees have other worries as well. Because even exposure may be enough to trigger a mandated 14-day quarantine, many are concerned about their finances should they end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you miss work because of this virus, help may be available.
Workers’ compensation was created to protect employees from medical losses caused by or on the job, and COVID-19 is no exception to the law. Our team has been helping injured and ill workers recover compensation for over 125 years. Though we cannot fight on the front lines as bravely as you do, we are here to fight for first responders who have been infected on the job.
Contact Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers at (301) 932-9997 if you’re a first responder in Maryland or D.C. who’s missed work because of the novel coronavirus. We’re providing free video, phone, and email consultations to help you explore your options.
Occupational Diseases and Workers’ Comp
Workers’ compensation insurance is not only for accidents that happen on the job. It’s also applicable to other conditions that arise out of the course of your work. In some cases, employee illnesses are caused by exposure to toxic chemicals. Right now, first responders may be exposed to the novel coronavirus because of their jobs and, therefore, may be eligible to recover damages including lost wages and medical expenses. In more serious cases, workers’ compensation could also cover permanent disability or death benefits.
The difficult part of applying for workers’ comp for an occupational disease is proving your illness was caused by your work. This pandemic has affected hundreds of thousands of Americans so far and is likely to keep growing. If insurers had to pay even a fraction of these claims, it would seriously threaten their bottom line. They are likely to push back against you regardless of the details of your claim. If you want to file for reimbursement, make sure you have a dedicated attorney and a strong case that will stand up to challenges and scrutiny.
Stay Safe While Filing for Assistance
If you develop a case of COVID-19 due to workplace exposure, you should file for workers’ compensation as soon as possible. We can help you complete the full process online—meaning you can get started with us as soon as you’re feeling better, even if you’re required to stay away from work for a few days more because of contagion concerns. Our team is here to handle all the hard work for you, so if you’re not back to 100% yet, you can just hand over the details and let us get started. We want to do all we can to expedite your case.
We’d like to thank you and the other first responders who have been doing all you can to keep the rest of us safe during this pandemic. Society is in your debt. If you are looking for financial help after contracting COVID-19, our team is here to do what we can to help you receive workers’ compensation. If your employer’s insurer has pushed back against your claim or refused to pay you, reach out to our team for help.
