California requires almost every employer in the state to have workers’ compensation insurance, and almost every worker in every industry qualifies to file a claim for benefits if they are injured on the job. This extends to police officers and other public safety workers, and a Thousand Oaks police officer injury lawyer can be an invaluable asset if you have recently suffered an injury in the line of duty.
The attorneys at Barry Law Group have years of experience resolving workers’ compensation claims in Thousand Oaks, including helping police officers and other public safety workers with their work injury claims. Your case may seem straightforward at first, and workers’ compensation claims for police officers are often easier to resolve than those filed by typical private employees, but you still need legal counsel on your side to ensure optimal results.
Our firm can carefully review the details of how your injury occurred or how you developed a work-related illness or medical condition. We can then guide you through the claim filing process and resolve any problems you encounter with your employer and/or their insurance carrier. If you have grounds for a third-party claim to enhance your recovery, we can assist with this as well.
Ultimately, a police officer has more flexibility in filing a workers’ compensation claim in Thousand Oaks than the average employee of a private company, but they still require experienced legal counsel to ensure the fullest recovery possible. The team at Barry Law Group is ready to help you resolve your claim as efficiently as possible and will do everything we can to help maximize your benefits.
While public safety workers can file workers’ compensation claims just like most privately employed individuals in the state, there are specific rules that apply. Police officers have a presumptive injury rule that essentially makes it easier for them to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits due to the inherently hazardous and stressful nature of their work.
Under the presumptive injury rule, many medical conditions and injuries are automatically presumed to have occurred because of the plaintiff’s job responsibilities. While it is possible for an employer to attempt to rebut such a claim, it rarely occurs, and the police officer can typically expect full medical expense coverage for any qualifying injury or illness. Additionally, public safety workers typically qualify for more expansive disability benefits.
The average privately employed worker can expect about two-thirds of their average weekly wage each week in disability benefits when they qualify for workers’ compensation, but a police officer can receive 4850 benefits. This awards them a full year of their salary after an injury, and if they are still unable to return to work after the first year, they can transition to receiving total disability benefits like a standard workers’ compensation claim would provide.
Your Thousand Oaks police officer injury lawyer can streamline your claim filing process and ensure your claim is handled in good faith. If you have grounds to pursue any further compensation outside of the workers’ compensation claim filing process, they can assist with this as well. Barry Law Group has the professional resources and experience you want on your side, so it is crucial that you reach out to our team as soon as possible after a work-related injury.
High blood pressure or hypertension typically qualifies as a presumptive condition for the purposes of workers’ comp for police officers unless proven otherwise. Presumptive conditions typically have a lower burden of proof than other work-related injuries and illnesses, and an employer would need to provide evidence to rebut a claim for a police officer’s presumptive injury-related claim for benefits.
Police officers are required to wear duty belts that hold various pieces of equipment, including their sidearms, handcuffs, flashlights, and other important tools. Wearing this heavy belt each day creates strain on the lower back, and the duty belt presumption makes it easier for police officers to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits for lower back injuries. Your attorney can help prove your lower back injury resulted from wearing your duty belt.
The standard statute of limitations for workers’ compensation claims is one year from the date an injury occurs; otherwise, the claimant could lose the chance to claim benefits. This may sound like plenty of time, but it is always advisable for the claimant to submit their claim to an insurance carrier as soon as possible. Finding an experienced Thousand Oaks police officer injury lawyer to help you after your injury can expedite the claim filing process.
Hiring an experienced attorney to help with your claim can significantly improve your overall experience with the workers’ compensation claim filing process. Instead of attempting to manage your legal affairs and your medical needs all at once on your own, you can trust your attorney to handle your claim so you can focus on recovering. Your attorney can also ensure you explore every available avenue of legal recourse after an injury at work.
The attorneys at Barry Law Group accept many cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning our client pays a percentage of their final case award as our fee, and only if we win their case. We take others on an hourly basis and sometimes use a combination of billing practices. We can explain your billing in close detail so there are no surprises regarding the cost of our legal representation.
The right attorney can make filing your claim for workers’ compensation benefits much easier, and you will have a dedicated legal advocate ready to address your unique needs and concerns as your case unfolds when you choose Barry Law Group to represent you. Our firm is ready to provide comprehensive support for all phases of your claim, so contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a Thousand Oaks police officer injury lawyer you can trust.
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.