FIREFIGHTER’S WORDS -238- DISABLED
I’m a total permanent disabled volunteer firefighter from NY.
I was struck by a car while I was directing traffic to a fire back in 1972. Both legs, my back broken numerous internal injuries, in a coma for three and a half months, fractured skull. Yet I was only classified partial disabled. It wasn’t until twenty years later through the magic of the MRI, the Doctors discovered I suffered a traumatic brain injury from my original 1972 accident. Now I am classified as total permanent disabled from the Volunteer firefighters Benefit Law of New York State. I get $400.00 per week from workers comp.
My interest is that every volunteer firefighter make sure they have enough disability insurance.
When I was 17 years old I wanted to help my community and follow in my family’s footsteps by joining the Volunteer fire dept.
This was in 1972, six months later I was struck by a car. The current disability benefits that most state’s provide their volunteer firefighters to put it bluntly, SUCK, big time! You have to fight and fill out forms for any medical treatment your Doctor reccommends for you. Even though you are classified as total permanent disabled by workers’ compensation.
The system treats you like you’re trying to rip them off. I wanted to help my community when I was 17, now I’m forced to live a life of poverty and I have to beg for everything.
Nobody should have to go through this. Please consider writing about how important it is for volunteer firefighters to make sure they have disability insurance. Nobody is indistructable!!!
