Simi Valley police officer injury attorneys are there to ensure these protected workers are treated fairly under the law. California law requires almost every employer in the state to have workers’ compensation insurance.
This insurance comes into play whenever an employee suffers any type of injury on the job, performing two essential functions. Workers’ compensation insurance protects employers from civil liability for their injured workers’ damages while also providing injured workers with the compensation needed to recover as fully as possible from their work-related accidents.
Police officers throughout the state have one of the most demanding jobs in the country and face tremendous risks in the line of duty. When a police officer suffers any kind of injury while working in Simi Valley, they have the same right to seek workers’ compensation benefits as any other worker, but special rules apply to law enforcement officers injured while working.
If you find yourself in this situation, a Simi Valley workers’ compensation attorney can provide the comprehensive legal representation you need to navigate the claim filing process successfully and secure the benefits you need to recover as fully as possible.
Filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits is similar to what you could expect when filing any other type of insurance claim. However, the rules for workers’ compensation are a bit different for police officers than those that apply to employees of private companies.
It is generally easier for an injured police officer to prove they qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, and the average injured officer can receive more benefits than a private employee injured while working.
Your Simi Valley workers’ comp attorney can help file your claim, gathering any documentation needed to prove the full extent and severity of your injury and resolving any issues you encounter with the insurance company. Once your claim is received, the insurance company delivers a determination of benefits that will explain the extent of compensation you will receive.
Most injured police officers can expect full coverage of their medical expenses along with one full year of salary, and weekly payments will continue until they are able to return to work. After one full year of these benefits, an injured officer who is still unable to work will transition to receiving temporary disability benefits similar to what a private employee would expect, equal to about two-thirds of their average weekly wage for up to 104 weeks or until they are able to return to the line of duty.
Ultimately, filing a claim for workers’ compensation can be a bit easier for a police officer than it is for a private employee in some respects but more challenging in others. When you have Barry Law Group representing you, you will be ready to face any unexpected complications that could arise throughout your recovery efforts, and you will be more likely to maximize the benefits you receive. Our team is standing by to provide the legal support you need in this difficult time.
Under Labor Code 3700, the state is not required to have workers’ compensation insurance, but all other employers must, and most workers are eligible to claim workers’ compensation benefits if they are injured on the job. Police officers are covered by workers’ compensation insurance, but their insurance works differently than the way it applies to standard private employees.
An injured police officer can typically expect full medical expense coverage and one full year of their salary as disability benefits if they are injured in the line of duty. Their ongoing disability benefits work differently than those awarded to private employees. If they are unable to return to work after this first year, they will continue receiving benefits equal to about two-thirds of their average weekly pay each week until they have recovered enough to return to work.
In most workers’ compensation claims, claimants must prove their injuries directly resulted from their job duties. However, police officers have a bit of leniency in this aspect of their work injury claims, as many injuries are presumed to be directly caused by their work duties. Some examples of presumptive medical conditions include bloodborne infectious diseases, cancer, hernia, heart complications, and back injuries.
You can try to file a workers’ compensation claim without legal counsel, but having an attorney’s assistance will make the process much easier to handle and more likely to yield the results you hope to see. Your attorney can guide you through every step of the claim filing process and ensure you receive appropriate benefits for your injury.
The attorneys at Barry Law Group can provide the legal counsel you need when you need it most without adding to your economic strain after a workplace injury. We take workers’ compensation cases on a contingency fee basis. When you have a contingency fee agreement with your attorney, you will only pay them a fee if and when they win your case, and your fee is a percentage of the total compensation they recover for you. There is no fee if your attorney is unable to secure a case award.
Barry Law Group has years of experience helping all kinds of injured workers in Simi Valley in their workers’ compensation claims, and we know the unique risks and challenges that law enforcement officers face every day on the job, as well as in their recovery efforts following work-related injuries.
If you or a loved one is a police officer in Simi Valley who has recently suffered any type of work-related injury, contact Barry Law Group today to schedule a free consultation with a Simi Valley workers’ compensation attorney who can help with your recovery efforts.
Barry Law Group is comprised of attorneys and longtime staff members who are committed to the success of your legal matter. The firm understands that for most litigation is uncharted worrisome and often terrifying.