Orange County Police Officer Injury Lawyer

Orange County Police Officer Injury Attorney

Police officers and California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers have some of the most dangerous jobs. They are not only required to maintain public safety and order but also apprehend dangerous individuals who have caused harm in the Orange County community. If you are a police or CHP officer injured in the line of duty, it is vital to know your rights when it comes to workers’ compensation benefits and the value of having reliable legal counsel on your side.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Injured Police and CHP Officers in Orange County, CA

Canlas Law Group has extensive professional experience handling work injury claims for clients in Orange County, working in every industry, including public safety and law enforcement. The rules for workers’ compensation are a bit different for police and CHP officers, often leading to an easier time for injured officers to recover benefits than the average private employee could expect after a work injury. However, this does not mean an injured officer should attempt to handle their recovery efforts alone. Our team can provide comprehensive legal counsel through all stages of your work injury claim.

Risks Facing Police and CHP Officers on the Job in Orange County

Law enforcement and public safety work are inherently dangerous in many ways. It’s possible for a police or CHP officer to suffer injuries while working in various ways, including:

• Injuries from assault and violent crime. Apprehension of dangerous criminals is inherently hazardous in many ways, and it is possible for any officer to sustain injuries in the line of duty from direct confrontation with a suspect.
• Back injuries, such as herniated discs and repetitive stress injuries to soft tissues. Police officers must carry heavy-duty belts every day and are often required to run and perform other physically demanding actions in carrying out their duties. Police and CHP officers can invoke the rule regarding presumptive injuries when it comes to seeking compensation for back injuries.
• Musculoskeletal injuries. These injuries may be sustained in various ways, from tackling and wrestling suspects to the ground during an arrest to various other causes. These injuries could include broken bones, joint dislocation, soft tissue damage, and torn muscles and ligaments.
• Acquired illnesses from bloodborne pathogens. Police and CHP officers could come into contact with suspects’ blood and bodily fluids, and they are often required to initiate law enforcement action inside structures with severe health risks. If a police or CHP officer acquires a disease while working, this can be the foundation of their workers’ compensation claim.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the risks a police or CHP officer faces on the job every day. Ultimately, if you acquired an injury or illness from any type of work-related issue, you have the right to claim workers’ compensation benefits in Orange County. If you encounter any type of resistance with regard to your workers’ compensation claim, you will need legal representation you can trust to help you overcome such issues and secure the compensation you need to recover as fully as possible.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Orange County Public Safety Officers

California’s workers’ compensation laws generally enable injured employees to secure medical expense coverage and limited compensation for their lost income after a work-related injury if they cannot work during recovery. However, due to the inherent dangers of police work and the value that police and CHP officers provide to their community, individuals working in law enforcement and public safety generally have access to greater benefits than the average private employee.

If you suffer an injury or acquire an illness from the line of duty, you can expect full coverage of all your related medical expenses until you reach maximum medical improvement from your condition. As part of your claim filing process, you will need to see a workers’ compensation doctor who will evaluate your condition and determine your level of disability. Typically, an injured police officer should expect full compensation for all medical expenses related to their injury.

When it comes to income replacement benefits, police and CHP officers are eligible to receive a full year of their salary while they are unable to work. If they remain unable to work after this year, they will then receive up to one year of temporary disability benefits at the same rate an average private employee could expect, which is about two-thirds of their average weekly wage.

Find Legal Counsel You Can Trust in Orange County

Even though the workers’ compensation rules are a bit more relaxed for police and CHP officers compared to private employees, this does not mean that filing for workers’ compensation benefits in Orange County will be easy. It’s possible for an injured officer to encounter various unpredictable challenges they will have trouble overcoming on their own. They may also have grounds to file a personal injury suit against the specific party responsible for their injury with the help of Orange County personal injury lawyer.

When you choose Canlas Law Group to represent you after an injury in the line of duty, we will immediately review the details of how your injury occurred and help you understand the proceedings ahead. We have years of experience guiding our clients in Orange County through the workers’ compensation claim filing process and will do everything we can to streamline your recovery. When you have grounds for legal recourse against a specific party responsible for harming you, you can rely on our team for guidance with this as well, and we will aim for maximum compensation for you.

When a police or CHP officer is injured in the line of duty, there is an inherent sense of urgency when it comes to their recovery. While it is technically possible to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits on your own, you have a much greater chance of recovering as fully as state law allows when you have an attorney you can trust advising you.

FAQs About Orange County, CA Police Officer Injury Laws

What Are Presumptive Injuries for Police Officers?

Sections 3212 and 3213 of the Labor Code outline the presumptive injuries facing public safety workers, including police and CHP officers. A few of these presumptive injuries include heart conditions, pneumonia, hernias and related conditions, back injuries, cancer, MRSA, and other diseases from bloodborne pathogens. If you believe any injury or illness is related to your public safety work, an Orange County workers’ compensation attorney can help determine your most viable recovery options.

What Is the Duty Belt Presumption?

Police and CHP officers are required to wear duty belts that carry several pieces of gear, such as their firearm, handcuffs, taser, radio, and various other pieces of gear. This causes repetitive and consistent strain on the body, especially the back. The Duty Belt Presumption applies to public safety officers who experience back injuries, meaning these injuries are presumed to be caused by carrying their duty belts every day. This presumption intends to make it easier for officers to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits for back problems.

Which Type of Injury Is Most Common in Policing?

According to the most recently available work injury data for police officers in Orange County and throughout the state, the greatest risk of injury facing public safety officers is assault and violent misconduct from the suspects they arrest. This may not only include physical strikes from a suspect but also stabbing injuries, gunshots, and injuries from thrown objects and blunt instruments.

How Much Can an Injured Police Officer Receive in Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Police officers and other public safety officers are generally able to recover more benefits for work-related injuries than other private employees in the state. If you are injured in the line of duty, you may qualify for up to one year of your full salary along with full coverage of all medical expenses related to all presumptive injuries you sustained through work. Although it is generally easier for a police or CHP officer to recover workers’ compensation benefits, it is still advisable to hire an Orange County workers’ compensation attorney to assist you with your recovery efforts.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Orange County Workers’ Compensation Attorney?

Canlas Law Group can provide comprehensive and responsive legal counsel in your work injury case without adding to your financial concerns with exorbitant hourly attorneys’ fees. We take all cases involving financial compensation on a contingency fee basis, meaning our client only pays a fee after we secure compensation on their behalf. If our firm is unable to secure compensation for you, you will not owe a fee at all.

Contact Us Today

An experienced attorney can streamline your recovery efforts following an injury in the line of duty. While the workers’ compensation rules for police and CHP officers are generally more relaxed than the rules that apply to private employees in the state, it is still possible for an injured officer to encounter legal complications in their recovery efforts if they do not know how to address them on their own. Contact Canlas Law Group today to make an appointment for a free consultation with an experienced Orange County workers’ compensation attorney so you can approach your recovery process with confidence.