Firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics take on real physical risk protecting Laurel, and when the job hurts you, Maryland workers' comp covers medical care and part of your lost wages. Some conditions also qualify for an occupational-disease presumption under Md. Labor & Employment §9-503. The Pinder Plotkin Legal Team represents firefighters and EMS providers across Laurel, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Montgomery counties. You pay nothing unless we win.
At Pinder Plotkin, the initial consultation is free, whether by phone or in person. You have the right to an attorney, and we work on a contingency basis — you do not pay attorney fees up front while dealing with medical bills and lost wages, and our fee comes only after you win.
Maryland law presumes certain illnesses — hypertension, heart disease, and specific cancers after 10 years of service — are caused by the job for firefighters, rescue squad members, firefighting instructors, and some volunteer firefighters. It’s the employer’s or insurer’s burden to prove otherwise (§ 9-503).
If a firefighter suffers a partial disability, the benefit is calculated on a higher tier — in many cases, roughly double what a civilian worker would receive for a similar injury.
Report it in writing or verbally within ten days of the injury. If you develop an occupational disease, you must report it to your employer within one year of discovering the illness.
Get to a doctor as soon as you can and follow your healthcare provider's instructions. Tell them about your injury in detail so you get the proper treatment — and so the record ties your condition to the job.
Your healthcare provider will record your injury, but it helps to document it yourself too — how it happened, your symptoms, and the treatment you're getting.
Photograph the injury if it's visible. Photos can serve as evidence of the extent of your injuries even after they heal, and can help show the cause of the injury.
File your claim with the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission with the help of a workers' compensation attorney, who can handle the paperwork and legal steps needed within the filing deadline.
Hypertension and heart disease are presumed to have occurred on the job for firefighters, rescue squad members, firefighting instructors, employees of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and some volunteer firefighters — though you must show the condition impairs your ability to perform your job duties.
Hearing loss or tinnitus isn't a presumed occupational illness, but Laurel's workers' comp benefits cover it if you can show the severity of the loss, the damages it caused, and that on-the-job conditions caused it.
If you're retired, you may still be entitled to file a claim for one of these conditions. Some firefighters diagnosed before joining the department may also be entitled to benefits — take steps to protect your rights.
Rescue squad members, firefighting instructors, employees of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and some volunteer firefighters may also receive benefits under this provision, alongside career firefighters and EMTs.
Joshua Fannon, Esq. is a 25-year Baltimore City Fire Department Battalion Chief and the elected President of IAFF Local 964. He reads incident reports and medical records the way they were written — from inside the firehouse.
As a Maryland-certified Cardiac Rescue Technician and the elected Active Fire Trustee on the Baltimore City Fire & Police Employees Retirement System, he understands how a presumption claim fits with your pension.
Managing attorney Jason Plotkin, who comes from a family of first responders, leads the team behind him — so your claim gets both an insider's read and firm-wide support.
Unlike a typical injury claim, Maryland workers' comp benefits are set by statute — not negotiated case-by-case with an insurance adjuster. You may be entitled to:
As with other workers' comp claims, you generally receive two-thirds of your average weekly wage as compensation while you're out of work.
Temporary total disability pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you’re unable to work, capped at the state average weekly wage (§ 9-621). Under the 14-day/3-day waiting rule (§ 9-620), if you’re out fewer than 14 days, the first 3 days aren’t paid unless your disability continues 14 days or more.
Maryland pays permanent partial disability awards in tiers based on the length of the award: under 75 weeks is paid at one-third of your average weekly wage (§ 9-628); 75 weeks or more is paid at two-thirds of your average weekly wage, with a higher cap on longer awards (§ 9-629, § 9-630).
Your workers’ comp claim is against your employer’s insurer and doesn’t depend on fault — but it also doesn’t pay for pain and suffering. If someone other than your employer helped cause your injury, you may also have a separate third-party claim that can recover more. We look at both so you don’t leave money on the table.
Maryland workers’ comp generally covers employees, not true independent contractors. But workers are often misclassified — if your employer controlled how and when you did your work, you may be covered even if you were labeled a contractor. It’s worth letting us take a look before you assume you have no claim.
Whatever your role, if you were hurt on the job near Laurel, Maryland's workers' compensation system is built to get you medical care and wage-replacement benefits. Some public-safety roles carry additional statutory protections — see our pages for firefighters & EMTs, police officers, correctional officers, and public safety employees below.
Workplace injuries are more common than most people realize, and Maryland’s no-fault system gives injured workers real protections — including some added protections for public-safety roles.
These occupational-disease presumptions come from Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 9-503, and presumption claims are filed with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission — the same agency that handles every Maryland workers’ comp claim.
Get a fast, free estimate of what your case could be worth.
Estimate what your Maryland workers’ comp claim could be worth.
Estimate Your Settlement ValueFor firefighters and EMTs, Maryland law presumes certain cancers, heart, and lung diseases are work-related. Our firm uses this legal presumption to build your case and fight for the full benefits you are owed for these occupational illnesses.
Insurers often dispute these complex claims. Our job is to fight back by using the powerful legal presumptions and medical evidence to prove your condition is job-related and secure the compensation you deserve.
Public safety officers are entitled to enhanced compensation for permanent disabilities. We have specific experience with these unique benefits and fight to ensure your final award reflects the higher level of compensation you are owed by law.
These cases are governed by special rules and presumptions not found in typical workers' comp claims. Our focused experience ensures we know how to navigate this unique system and maximize the benefits available only to public safety personnel.
From filing the initial claim to fighting a denial in court, we manage every step. This allows you to focus on your health and family while we handle the complex legal work required to win your case.
Only for cancer. The cancer presumption requires at least 10 years of cumulative service plus contact with a toxic substance in the line of duty. Heart disease, hypertension, and lung disease have no minimum years-of-service requirement — what matters is that the condition results in disability.
Often, yes. An occupational-disease claim generally must be filed within two years of “disablement” — when the condition disables you or you first learn it is work-related (§ 9-711) — not from your last shift. A disease that manifests after you leave the department can still be timely, so do not assume you have missed your window.
Covered. The same § 9-503 presumptions reach advanced life support unit members (EMTs and paramedics), rescue squad members, and fire instructors — not just firefighters. Qualifying volunteers must have passed a pre-service physical.
329 Prince George St, Laurel, MD 20707 · Call (888) 844-5373 to schedule a visit. · View on Google
We handle workers' compensation cases throughout the Laurel area and the surrounding counties.
Jason Plotkin does not just take Laurel cases — he shows up in the community. He serves as a Director of the Laurel Board of Trade, hosts Around Town on Laurel TV, and has moderated the Laurel Candidates Forum for the past two election cycles. When you work with our firm, you are working with people who know this city — its roads, its courts, and its neighbors.
Free case review, no pressure, no fee unless we win. Reach out and one of our attorneys will walk you through your options.
Call (888) 844-5373
