Pasadena, CA Workers’ Compensation & Personal Injury Law Firm
Protecting the rights of injured police officers and firefighters
You risk your life daily to protect our community. When your hard work and job commitment abruptly end, or are interrupted, by a workplace accident or illness, the injury can result in devastating consequences to you, your family and your future employment prospects. The distressing aftermath of a workplace injury can leave you feeling vulnerable and alone.
The Law Offices of Alan B. Snitzer, A Professional Corporation has been guiding injured police officers and firefighters through the arduous procedure of processing a workers’ compensation claim within the California Workers’ Compensation system, for over 30 years. With the Schwarzenneger “reforms” of 2004, it has only gotten even harder to recover fair compensation and needed medical benefits.
We have represented many thousands of injured public safety officers, across Southern California and beyond,
from as many as 40 different public safety agencies, at the state, county and local levels, from the biggest (LAPD, LASD) to the smallest (Sierra Madre PD, San Gabriel FD., Azusa PD, etc.) and everything in between!
We can help you receive full benefits for your injuries or illness, including:
- Compensation for permanent disability
- Dependents’ recovery for worker’s death
- Lost wages or salary (including special Labor Code Sec. 4850 full pay)
- Medical treatment
- Lifetime Medical award
- Retraining costs
You are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for an injury or illness that occurred at your workplace or through a work-related activity. Even in the absence of your employer’s fault or negligence, you can still receive the help you need through workers’ compensation benefits.
Special Benefits available for California Public Safety Officers
Peace officers, firefighters, and other public safety personnel in California enjoy certain legal “presumptions” that are only granted by law to sworn safety officers, starting with Califiornia Labor Code Section 3212. If they suffer from the following conditions, the law provides a REBUTTABLE (but seldom-rebutted) presumption that the injury or illness is job-related, along with other important benefits that we can tell you about:
-Heart Trouble
-Cancer
-Pneumonia
-Hernias
-Tuberculosis
-Meningitis
-Hepatitis and other blood-borne infectious diseases
-Low Back (police, only)
-MRSA (super-bug infection)
-Lyme Disease
-Weapons of Mass Destruction and Bio-chemical Agents (a response to 9/11)
Other benefits might be available besides workers’ compensation
Even if you accept workers’ compensation payments, you may still have a right to pursue other remedies against a negligent third party, if your injury resulted from a motor vehicle accident or other negligent act or omission. If another party has acted negligently and caused your injuries, you may deserve compensation for pain and suffering and other damages, not a available through the workers’ compensation system. Our attorneys carefully review your case to determine the best means of recovering the compensation you deserve. If a personal injury claim or lawsuit is also in your best interest, we clearly explain your options to you. This can sometimes include pursuing a claim for “uninsured” or “underinsured” motorist damages on your own auto insurance liability policy, if the responsible party either had no insurance, or too little insurance coverage.
Appealing a decision to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB)
If your workers compensation claim is unfairly denied, you have only a short window of opportunity to appeal the unjust decision. We can help you avoid the stress of maneuvering through the overwhelming bureaucratic process of appealing to the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.
Contact an experienced Los Angeles County workers compensation attorney ready to serve our public servants
The Law Offices of Alan B. Snitzer, A Professional Corporation is located in Pasadena, CA and represents clients throughout Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale, the San Gabriel Valley, and the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. We have also handled significant cases in other parts of California, as well.
Call the Law Offices of Alan B. Snitzer, A Professional Corporation at 626.449.4300 to discuss your case.