First Responder PTSD Claims in Orange County

Workers’ Compensation for Mental Health Difficulties

Each day, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and other first responders face extreme situations and scenes of violence. Not only is there a high risk of physical injury, but there is an arguably higher chance of suffering a mental health injury like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In recognition of this nonphysical on-the-job danger, California Governor Newsom recently signed SB 542 to make it simpler for first responders to receive workers’ compensation benefits after being diagnosed with PTSD.

To make it even easier to receive necessary workers’ compensation benefits after you have been diagnosed with PTSD as a first responder, you can come to Alvandi Law Group in Orange County. Our attorneys have more than 30 years of collective legal experience handling all stages of workers’ compensation claims for our clients. We only accept workers’ comp cases, so we are never distracted by any other case type.

We can assist first responders from all career fields, such as:

Call (800) 980-6905 or fill out an online contact form to connect with our firm. You deserve rest and recuperation after the stress of your job gets to be a bit too much. 

What Does SB 542 Do?

California Senate Bill 542 creates a “rebuttable presumption” that first responders' mental health difficulties are a result of their work duties and should, therefore, be considered a type of workplace injury. In other words, if a first responder is diagnosed with PTSD, then it should be presumed that it developed due to the daily stresses and hardships of their job requirements. A rebuttable presumption means that an insurance company can still challenge a first responder PTSD workers’ compensation claim, but it must take the responsibility of proving that the mental health difficulty was caused by something other than work.

Workers’ compensation benefits that can be given to first responder PTSD claimants include:

• Medical care costs: A first responder who seeks mental health treatments like sessions with a psychotherapist can be reimbursed the full cost of those treatments if the medical provider is in-network, just as would be the case for medical treatments regarding physical injuries.
• Disability indemnity: When a first responder needs to take more than a week off work to seek mental health treatments, which can include bedrest, they can be provided a portion of their average wages during that time.

Symptoms of PTSD

Many police officers, firefighters, and EMTs suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder but do not realize it at first. Training protocols and the nature of the job often expect first responders to set aside their own hardships to protect the well being of others. While this might be admirable, too much stoicism can be detrimental and allow PTSD symptoms to go unchecked, gradually worsening a first responder’s mental health difficulties.

Symptoms of PTSD you should pay attention to:

• Intense anxiety or depression when reminded of a tragic moment
• Specific triggers that can “take you back” to a tragedy or horrific event
• Night terrors related to trauma
• Depression or disassociation

If you are experiencing any symptoms of PTSD, please reach out to your trusted medical provider as soon as you can. An early diagnosis could help mitigate symptoms before the situation worsens.