{"id":50860,"date":"2024-07-28T10:21:41","date_gmt":"2024-07-28T15:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/3718439.findlaw4.flsitebuilder.com\/?p=50860"},"modified":"2024-07-28T10:21:41","modified_gmt":"2024-07-28T15:21:41","slug":"first-responders-ptsd-and-workers-comp-oklahomas-new-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/frasierlaw.com\/?p=50860","title":{"rendered":"First responders, PTSD and workers\u2019 comp: Oklahoma\u2019s new law"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re a first responder or have a loved one who is, you know that the stress and trauma of the job can be overwhelming and even paralyzing. Increasingly, lawmakers across the country are requiring state workers\u2019 compensation boards to cover serious mental health conditions for firefighters, police and other first responders caused by work duties.<\/span><\/p>\n

This spring, Oklahoma took an important step forward in doing the same. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a law, which takes effect next year, that allows first responders to get <\/span>workers\u2019 comp benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder<\/span><\/a> (PTSD) suffered due to their jobs. This applies to both professional and volunteer firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).<\/span><\/p>\n

The head of the Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police says that his organization has been working on getting this workers\u2019 comp coverage for law enforcement officers and other first responders for years. He says, \u201cLaw enforcement\u2019s just been taught you go out here, you deal with the job, all the horrific things that come from it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Some specifics about the law<\/span><\/h2>\n

He says that the new law will allow those who have been diagnosed with work-related PTSD to get \u201c<\/span>counseling or some type of medicine<\/span><\/a> and hopefully get them back on the job, able to continue their career.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The law specifies that a first responder can receive benefits for treatment and time away from the job for up to a year for the condition. If they\u2019re permanently disabled by their PTSD, however, they may be eligible for up to $50,000 in benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

As noted, the new law doesn\u2019t take effect until next year. In the meantime, it\u2019s critical for all first responders to know their current rights to workers\u2019 comp benefits and to get the benefits to which they\u2019re entitled. If you have questions or concerns about a worker\u2019s comp application or have been denied benefits, it can help to have legal guidance.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re a first responder or have a loved one who is, you know that the stress and trauma of the job can be overwhelming and even paralyzing. Increasingly, lawmakers across the country are requiring state workers\u2019 compensation boards to cover serious mental health conditions for firefighters, police and other first responders caused by work […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-workers-compensation"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t