Police & Firefighter Injury Lawyers in Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Free Initial Consultation

Police officers and firefighters — and other emergency response personnel — frequently expose themselves to serious risks of injury as part of their job.  These risks are not always predictable or controllable.  In fact, a police officer or firefighter may suffer injuries despite having adhered to their training guidelines and having engaged in safe practices.

Though danger is — in many respects — inherent to the job, police officers and firefighters should not (and do not) have to “grit their teeth” through their various injuries.  In the event of injury, police officers and firefighters in New Jersey may seek compensation for their injuries as part of a workers’ compensation claim.

Bear in mind that all employees in New Jersey, both public and private, may be entitled to assert a workers’ compensation claim for injuries suffered within the course and scope of their employment.

If you are a police officer or firefighter who was injured on the job, consult with one our experienced workers’ compensation attorney here at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC for an assessment of your claim.

Common Injury Risks for NJ Police Officers and Firefighters

Injury risks posed to police officers and firefighters are not always directly related to those aspects of the job one might normally expect to pose a risk — in many cases, they are related to the general hazards of the environment in which the officer or firefighter is working in.  For example, a police officer may injure himself while chasing a suspect down a flight of poorly lit stairs, causing him to miss a step and tumble to the ground violently.

Injury risks for police officers include, but are not necessarily limited, to:

• Criminal violence (i.e., stabbing, impact damage, gunshot wounds, etc.)
• Friendly fire from an errant shot by another officer
• Motor vehicle accidents, whether chasing an offender or simply in the normal course of driving on the job
• On-site premises liability hazards (i.e., slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall hazards)
• Stress-related medical injuries (i.e., stroke or heart attack)
• Injuries suffered during official training exercises

Injury risks for firefighters include, but are not necessarily limited, to:

• Burning injuries
• Lung injuries due to significant smoke exposure
• Damage associated with explosions
• Heavy impact damage due to falling debris
• Back, leg, and spinal cord injuries related to rescue duties (i.e., having to lift a heavy object off of a victim)
• On-site premises liability hazards
• Stress-related medical injuries
• Injuries suffered during official training exercises

At Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC, our attorneys understand that the circumstances leading to your injury can be diverse and unpredictable.  Call us today for a free consultation.

NJ Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Liability for Cops and Firefighters

In New Jersey, police officers and firefighters — just like other employees — cannot sue their employer for on-the-job injuries.  Instead, injured police officers and firefighters must file a workers’ compensation claim to obtain benefits that will cover medical expenses, wage loss replacement pay, and more.

In some circumstances, however, you may be able to sue a third-party whose negligence contributed to your injuries.  This third-party liability can potentially give you access to damages that would not otherwise be available through your employer.  For example, if you are a police officer injured due to a negligently maintained guardrail (resulting in a falling injury), you can recover workers’ compensation benefits through your employer and potentially sue the owner of the property under a theory of premises liability.

Contact Our New Jersey Firm Today to Discuss Your Police or Firefighter Workers’ Comp Claim

The New Jersey attorneys at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC have years of experience handling workers’ compensation and third-party claims in police and firefighter injury cases.  Call us today at (877) 423-4878 to schedule a free consultation.  We look forward to speaking with you and helping you obtain fair compensation for the injuries you suffered.