It goes without saying that first responders and EMTs have high-pressure jobs and courageously put themselves at risk to help others. Nevertheless, it comes as a shock when communities lose a first responder in the line of duty.
Recently, one DeKalb County EMT was struck by a vehicle and killed while he was assisting on a car accident scene.
According to the American Medical Response (AMR), 32-year-old Logan Wade and his partner Nick Daniel were traveling from Georgia to Louisiana to deliver supplies for refugees of Hurricane Ida on September 4, 2021. Since they were off-duty, they were in a non-emergency vehicle.
On the way, Logan and his partner happened upon a car accident. They decided to stop and help until other emergency personnel arrived. One person was critically injured and they were fighting to save the victim’s life.
During this attempt, a truck rammed into the already-crashed car. The impact killed Wade and injured Daniel, though not fatally.
“We are heartbroken,” said Chris Valentin, AMR Regional Director, in a statement to AMR’s Georgia teams. “Logan was a longtime AMR team member who always stepped up to help others. He stopped at this accident to help people in need as he was selflessly headed to a disaster area. These acts are a testament to Logan’s commitment to his profession.”
After the incident, Valentin released the following message to all AMR employees:
I am so sorry to share very sad news with you that our longtime teammate, EMT Logan Wade, has passed away as the result of a tragic accident. We are heartbroken. Logan and his partner, Nick Daniel, were on their way from Georgia to Louisiana to deliver supplies to teams deployed in response to Hurricane Ida. While traveling in a non-emergency vehicle, they noticed an accident and pulled over to render aid. At some point, another vehicle came upon the scene and struck both of them. Emergency teams were called to the scene, but tragically Logan was unable to recover and succumbed to his injuries. Nick thankfully suffered only minor injuries and is being evaluated.
Logan was a longtime AMR team member who always stepped up to heroically help others. He and Nick stopped at this accident to help people in need as they were heading to the disaster area in Louisiana to help teammates and patients.
We have spoken with Logan’s family and are doing everything we can to support them. I ask that you pray for Logan’s family and friends during this terrible time.
We are also supporting Nick. He has asked for privacy during this time, and we absolutely will respect that.
Workers’ compensation for EMTs and first responders
What happened to Logan Wade was a tragic incident and we send our condolences to his family during this difficult time. We also hope Nick makes a speedy recovery.
After their immediate medical needs are taken care of, often one of the first questions injured firefighters and first responders have is how they will pay for it—or in other words: what will be covered by their employer when they get hurt on the job. Any firefighter injured while battling a fire, undergoing training or maintaining equipment should be eligible for compensation for permanent and temporary disability, partial lost income and medical expenses.
In the tragic event that an injured first responder dies due to a fatal on-the-job incident, workers’ compensation can help their family with funeral costs, death benefits, medical bills and loss of future income.
Unfortunately, such benefits are only provided if the worker in question was injured or killed in the line of duty. So in the case of Logan Wade, who was traveling off-duty in a non-emergency vehicle, his family likely won’t be able to recover workers’ compensation death benefits—though they may be able to pursue a third-party personal injury claim against the driver who hit him.
In Georgia, first responders and all injured workers have 1 year from the date of the injury to file a workers’ compensation claim to help pay for medical expenses, lost wages and disability. It’s important to reach out to a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney to talk about your legal options as soon as possible to get started.
At Gerber & Holder, we’re ready to answer your questions and help you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact us today for your free consultation.
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