Mississippi First Responder Injury Lawyer
Firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are essential jobs that also involve serious injury risks. First responders provide necessary emergency services that can save lives, but these workers also must put themselves in situations with significant injury hazards. In addition, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) emphasizes, the work that first responders do is “physically strenuous and stressful, sometimes involving life-or-death situations.” When a first responder like a firefighter, paramedic, or EMT sustains injuries on the job, it is critical for that person to find out more about seeking compensation for their losses. Depending upon the worker’s specific job and the circumstances of the injury, it may be possible to seek compensation through the Mississippi workers’ compensation system or through the Mississippi First Responders Health and Safety Act (MFRHSA). Contact our experienced Mississippi first responder injury lawyer for more information.
How First Responders Sustain Injuries in Mississippi
In order to understand how Mississippi first responders sustain work-related injuries, it is important to learn more about what these jobs entail. Generally speaking, the jobs of firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs have distinctions, but all of them are responsible for responding to emergency calls and often providing life-saving services. The BLS cites the following as common job duties of paramedics and EMTs:
- Responding to 911 calls when a person requires emergency assistance;
- Providing first-aid to people who are sick or injured in serious accidents;
- Transporting patients in emergency vehicles to a nearby hospital or emergency department; and
- Providing a report to any health care providers at the facility and documenting any services rendered to a patient.
Firefighters also respond to emergencies and drive emergency vehicles like paramedics and EMTs, and they can also be responsible for providing first-aid to patients in need. They also need to extinguish fires and provide rescue services when people are trapped in burning buildings. Common injuries affecting paramedics, EMTs, and firefighters include but are not limited to:
- Exposure injuries caused by exposure to hazardous substances;
- Falls;
- Burn injuries;
- Sprains and strains;
- Cuts and lacerations;
- Bruises;
- Asphyxiation;
- Respiratory diseases;
- Heat-related illness;
- Overexertion injuries; and
- Motor vehicle accident injuries, including bone fractures and traumatic brain injuries.
Seeking Compensation for a Mississippi First Responder Injury
First responders are often eligible to seek workers’ compensation benefits following an on-the-job injury. The Mississippi workers’ compensation system allows injured workers to obtain compensation for missed wages, as well as for medical costs.
In addition, certain first responders who are diagnosed with a job-related cancer due to exposure may be eligible for compensation under the Mississippi First Responders Health and Safety Act (MFRHSA). This relatively new law may provide benefits to firefighters and certain other first responders who have provided at least 10 years of service and have been diagnosed with cancer.
Contact Lunsford Baskin & Prieve, PLLC Today
First responders perform essential services in Mississippi, but they are also at risk of severe job-related injuries. When a first responder such as a paramedic, an EMT, or a firefighter suffers a traumatic injury or is diagnosed with an occupational disease, it is essential to find out more about seeking compensation. Contact our experienced Mississippi first responder injury lawyer today.
