JCC Orders Wheelchair-Accessible Housing After Paraplegia Injury

In Bulfrano Andres Bahena v. Robert B. Hess Jr. Racing Inc./Service American Indemnity Company and PMA Insurance Group, OJCC Case No. 23-019318MJR, the claimant sought authorization and provision of an electric wheelchair-accessible home after a July 23, 2023 horse-riding accident left him paraplegic.

Judge Michael J. Ring found that wheelchair-accessible housing was medically necessary and causally related to the industrial accident. The employer/carrier had already agreed that the claimant's travel trailer could not be reasonably modified and had begun searching for an accessible rental residence through a broker experienced with disability-accessible housing.

The order requires the employer/carrier to provide a wheelchair-accessible home for as long as medically necessary and related to the work injury, but denies a current ruling on specific features such as bedroom count, square footage, hurricane windows, or other modifications until an actual unit is selected and evaluated. Jurisdiction was reserved on attorney fees and costs.

Source: Compensation Order