Workers’ Compensation for Injured Police Officers
Helping Officers Injured On The Job In California
Policing is a dangerous occupation. Every day, officers face the risk of being punched, kick, stabbed, or shot by criminal suspects, in addition to the dangers of being injured in a car crash or while pursuing a suspect on foot. They venture into dangerous, hazardous areas, and they confront dangerous people. Officers who are hurt in the line of duty are entitled to compensation for their injuries, including coverage for the medical bills they incur and for the wages they lose should they be forced to miss out on work while recovering.
If you or your loved one is a police officer injured on the job in California, call the workers’ compensation attorneys at Invictus Law, P.C., for advice on how to proceed and representation focused on getting you the recovery you are owed.
Police Officer Injuries
Police officers face unique dangers and challenges while on the job. Some of the more common injuries suffered by police officers in the line of duty include:
- Gunshot wounds
- Stab wounds, including cuts, punctures, and lacerations
- Concussions
- Muscle sprains, strains, and tears
- Traumatic brain injury
- Bone breaks and fractures
- Injuries to the spinal cord
- Exposure to harmful chemicals
- Stress and hypertension
These injuries can require significant, expensive medical treatment, sometimes for years following a workplace incident. Officers may be temporarily unable to work as a result. Officers who are injured in the line of duty are entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, disability, travel to and from medical appointments, and other injury-related expenses. The sooner you file your claim and the better your representation, the more likely you are to receive complete compensation for all of your costs and expenses.
4850 Benefits for Officers
Police officers, like firefights and certain other emergency services workers, are entitled to special benefits under California Labor Code Section 4850 when they are injured on the job. “4850 Benefits” guarantee up to a year’s full salary for officers injured in the line of duty. After 12 months, if the officer is still injured and unable to work, they can start collecting typical workers’ comp disability benefits.
4850 Benefits are available to a variety of law enforcement personnel, including city police; sheriffs; airport officers; county juvenile officers; park rangers; county probation officers; and harbor police. Law enforcement officers also benefit from certain presumptions. Certain types of conditions are presumed to be work-related, making workers’ comp benefits much easier to obtain. Conditions presumed to be work-related include, among others, cancer, meningitis, pneumonia, Lyme disease, hernias, heart conditions, back injuries, and exposure to harmful chemicals.
Death Benefits for Police Officer Families
Death in the line of duty is an unfortunately common occurrence. Whether an officer is killed on active duty while pursuing a suspect or after succumbing to an illness caused by job duties, the officer’s family is entitled to compensation. Surviving spouses, children, and certain other dependents can collect benefits such as the following:
- Survivors’ benefits, which vary depending on the cause of death
- Compensation for funeral or burial expenses
- Health insurance benefits
If your loved one was killed while serving as a law enforcement officer in California, call a knowledgeable police officer workers’ compensation and death benefits attorney to find out what benefits you and your family may be entitled to collect.
Get Help Today From A Dedicated California Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Invictus Law, P.C., helps injured police officers secure full and fair compensation for damages, including medical expenses, prosthetics, physical therapy, and any other associated expenses. We provide advice and representation to employees injured in Riverside and San Bernardino counties and all Orange County communities, including Orange, Irvine and Santa Ana. Call us anytime at 949-287-5711 or use our online contact form to schedule a risk-free, complimentary consultation. We are available to help you get the medical treatment you need and the maximum compensation for your injury claims. We charge no fees up-front and will only accept payment once we secure a recovery for you.
