Workers’ Compensation Claims - Police Injuries

Law enforcement jobs are often very physical. They can also be pretty unpredictable. Police officers are at greater risk of physical bodily harm resulting in injuries.

Police officers have a higher risk of musculoskeletal problems such as muscle strains, ligament sprains, and back pain. They’re also at risk of non-fatal injuries, such as body motion injuries caused by overexertion and repetitive motion or stress on muscles and joints.

Police officers also have a higher risk of sustaining fatal injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, burn injuries, gunshot wounds, and severe neck and back injuries. Assaults often cause these injuries, falls, altercations with suspects, road accidents, shooting incidents, or knife injuries.

Yes, they are entitled to the workers’ compensation program benefits. Work-related injuries, even non-fatal ones, make them eligible to receive benefits.

Even volunteers, part-time police officers, and apprentices who sustain injuries while on duty are eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim.

If you have an injury at work, please report the incident to your line manager immediately and have the report logged on your agency’s reporting system. If you can’t do so, have someone do it for you.

California’s workers’ compensation program for police officers typically covers the medical treatments for your injuries, lost wages, and benefits for temporary or permanent disability. You can even receive benefits unavailable to regular injured employees from other industries.

For example, you can receive one year’s worth of your total salary instead of disability benefits. The latter only gives you two-thirds of your income.

Also, if you were diagnosed with cancer, heart disease, tuberculosis, meningitis, pneumonia, hernia, low back problems, or exposed to biological or chemical agents typically used as a weapon of mass destruction, you receive disability benefits. Even if you have a pre-existing medical condition that fits those listed above, it will be presumed as a work-related illness, and you will receive medical treatment for this condition.

Families of police officers understand the risks involved in their loved one’s line of work. They know the chances of severe injury and permanent disability are high. They also know there is an increased risk of death.

California’s workers’ compensation program protects police officers and their families. The spouse or partner of a fallen police officer can continue to collect health insurance benefits. Their children can also continue to receive health insurance benefits until they reach age 21. In addition, children are also given scholarships. The spouse also has the option to continue receiving health insurance benefits or collect a lump sum survivor benefit.