Articles

The California Worker’s Compensation system provides certain presumptions regarding the causation of an injury or illness for certain public employees. A presumption is a legal concept where the burden of proof automatically shifts from one party to another. In the legal world, the burden of proof is typically imposed on the injured worker to prove their case. Read More

Traffic collisions and accidents represent a hazard to your health and safety as much as any other work related injuries. Due to the nature of your duties as a Safety Member you spend a considerable amount of time driving the streets and highways, thus drastically raising your chances of being involved in an automobile accident. Read More

Clients frequently come in to our office and are shocked to learn that many of the conditions from which they suffer, are potentially work related. Apart from the usual orthopedic and presumptive injuries, many safety members have gastrointestinal complaints, high blood pressure, diabetes, hearing loss, actinic keratosis, pulmonary issues, sleep disturbance and sexual dysfunction. Read More

Twenty years ago, when you were out chasing a suspect or holding a fire line walking up a steep hill and your knee gave out, the department probably took care of you. They may have sent you to the emergency room, given you some meds, time off of work, physical therapy, and maybe even paid for surgery. After your treatment, your goal was to get back to work – full duty – no exceptions. Read More

Work place injuries are inevitable given the type of job duties first responders engage in. The process following these injuries can be difficult and complicated, especially when it comes to dealing with work restrictions. Given the impact work restrictions can have on an employee’s ability to return to work and their ability to actually continue performing their usual and customary job duties, it is critical to understand the process and the implications. Read More

Employees injured on-the-job, especially safety officers, often have legitimate concerns about whether claiming a workers’ compensation injury will hinder or prevent future work in their chosen career path. This article is written to give the basics surrounding an injured safety officer and his or her return-to-work following an injury on duty. Read More

Firefighters are exposed to loud noises that put them at greater risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss when compared to the rest of the population.  Potentially damaging noises include sirens, alarms, communication equipment, ventilation fans, and pneumatic tools. Additionally, firefighters are exposed to chemicals and combustion byproducts that have potentially ototoxic effects that can exacerbate the onset of hearing loss. Read More

A career full of challenges, rewards, and service to the community has earned an employee the right to retire with maximum benefits and minimum hassle. But a safety member’s retirement can be complex and time-consuming. At the very outset of the retirement process service members often wonder when it is the right time to retire and how to plan for a retirement that maximizes retirement benefits. Read More

Taking care of the grandchildren. Volunteering at church. Traveling across country in an RV. There are a lot of things we can do in retirement, including doing nothing at all. Firefighters and police officers have earned the right to do whatever they please when they put down their helmets/axes and guns/handcuffs for good. Unfortunately, many such retired safety members find themselves fighting asbestos diseases years after they stopped fighting fires and making arrests. In fact, it can take many years, more than 50 in some cases, for any asbestos-related disease to become known or symptomatic. Diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis can be devastating to retired safety members and their families, but there is help. Read More

Recently many of our clients have been pressured by their employer, or “employer’s” doctor to return to work after sustaining a work related injury. Employees injured at work may be entitled to Temporary Disability benefits. The term “temporary disability” (TD) refers to the healing period directly following an industrial injury during which an employee is off work temporarily and is unable to perform the job while being treated for the immediate effects of the injury. Read More

A September 28, 2014 Los Angeles Times special report addressed the workers’ compensation disability benefits paid to Los Angeles City police and fire sworn personnel. The article painted a picture of wide-spread abuse, fraud and waste of taxpayer money. Undoubtedly, Los Angeles has seen an increase in the cost of disability benefits as safety officers stay off work longer. Read More