Baltimore Law Enforcement Officer Injury Attorney
Working in law enforcement comes with many things—pride, a sense of duty, pride, and respect from your community. It also comes with the very real risk of being seriously injured, or even killed, on the job. Police officers face a fatality rate five times that of the average worker, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Police officers are regularly put in high-risk scenarios in which fast thinking and problem solving will determine whether the outcome is resolved without injury, or if someone will be leaving in an ambulance. Dangers for law enforcement officers come in all shapes and forms, from violence to distracted drivers. Fortunately, law enforcement officers and their families can rely on the workers’ compensation system when they get injured on the job. If you were injured on the job, or if your loved one made the ultimate sacrifice in his or her line of duty, our Baltimore law enforcement officer injury attorneys here at Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP can help you file for compensation.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits That Apply to Injured Law Enforcement Officers
Workers’ compensation covers pays for partial wage replacement, full medical care, and in some cases vocational training. Benefits can be used for any injury or illness that occurs on the job. Common law enforcement officer injuries include the following:
- Traumatic brain injury;
- Lacerations;
- Contusions;
- Fractured hand, arm, foot, or leg;
- Fractured rib;
- Facial injuries;
- Whiplash;
- Spinal cord injuries;
- Fractured vertebrae;
- Heart attack;
- Hypertension;
- Other back injuries, such as herniated discs;
- Other soft tissue injuries, such as torn ACL tendons; and
- Repetitive strain injuries, such as tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and tendonitis.
Proving the Injury Was Caused on the Job and Establishing The Severity of the Injury
There are two main steps when it comes to receiving workers’ compensation benefits. The first is to prove that the injury or illness was caused on the job. If the injury is traumatic, this is usually fairly simple, as there will be witnesses, reports from your colleagues, and hospital records. If the injury occurs over a long period of time, such as a repetitive strain injury, proving that it was caused by working as a law enforcement officer can be more difficult. One of the benefits to being a law enforcement officer in Maryland is that for some illnesses, such as hypertension and heart disease, it is assumed that they are caused by the stress of the job. One study found that the risk of sudden cardiac arrest for police officers while making an arrest was increased by up to 69 times. The second step to receiving benefits is to establish the severity of the injury, which is done using medical records from your doctor. The severity of the injury will determine whether or not you receive complete or partial disability compensation.
Call Our Baltimore Law Enforcement Officer Injury Attorneys Today
If you were injured at work, or your loved one was killed in the line of duty, our Baltimore law enforcement officer workers’ compensation attorneys can help you receive the full amount of workers’ compensation that you deserve. Call Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP today at 800-248-3352 to schedule a free consultation.
