Phoenix Law Enforcement Workers Comp Lawyer

Phoenix Law Enforcement Workers Comp Attorney

If you are an officer or other professional in law enforcement, including first responders, you are just as entitled to workers’ compensation as any other employee under Arizona law. By contacting a Phoenix law enforcement workers’ comp lawyer after an illness or injury, you can have your case reviewed and learn the next steps in acquiring the compensation you deserve.

The educated and skilled team of legal professionals at Arizona Injury Law Group is committed to working diligently on your case so that you can receive the compensation you’re entitled to after your workplace injury. Our workers’ compensation law firm has assisted countless clients following an injurious accident at their job or upon discovering a long-term ailment related to their occupation. We can help you obtain compensation for medical costs and loss of income.

Does Workers’ Comp Include Law Enforcement Officers?

In Arizona, all employers with more than one employee are required by law to have insurance coverage for workers’ compensation in the event a worker is hurt in the line of duty. This mandate also extends to first responders and law enforcement, with travel time to and from work along with traveling while on the job also being covered by workers’ compensation statutes. Compensation and benefits are enforced by the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA).

Any injured worker who seeks to obtain compensation is entitled to do so regardless of how they sustained bodily harm or illness, except in the case that injury was self-inflicted in order to file a fraudulent claim. This is because Arizona state law operates on a “no-fault” basis when it comes to cases of workplace injuries and compensation benefits. Typically, employees must file within one year of sustaining or discovering their condition.

In addition to pursuing workers’ compensation, injured employees may seek a settlement by filing a civil injury claim against their employer; this may only be done if there was willful misconduct involved in their accident (by the employer or a co-worker), if the worker rejected workers’ comp coverage before the injury, or if the employer failed to notify the worker of their right to reject workers’ compensation.

Physical Harm Commonly Sustained by Law Enforcement

Law enforcement officers frequently have work duties that require them to travel extensively, as well as frequently interact with the public. Both of these components cause the job to be highly variable, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous. While police officers and other first responders are typically associated with catastrophic injuries, even being killed in the line of duty, it is just as likely for these workers to sustain harm simply from strenuous physical activity or driving.

Law enforcement workers are susceptible to injuries from motor vehicle accidents, assault, and other violent actions from an animal or a civilian– including wounds from thrown objects, firearms, or other makeshift weapons. Physical harm from sudden falling accidents or unexpected pursuits/attacks and long-term complications are also possible.

Law officers are particularly prone to musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, impacting the body’s bones, muscles, joints, and connective tissue, which result in diminished daily functioning and physical pain. Some common examples of this include swollen muscles, damage to the rotator cuff, sprains, shin pain, dislocations, Achilles tendon injury, and aching in the knees and lower back region.

FAQs

Q: Is There a Statute of Limitations on Workers’ Compensation Claims in Arizona?

A: The statute of limitations for filing a workplace injury claim is one year. This means that any workers injured while on the job must submit a request for workers’ comp to the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) within a year of their accident or from the date that injury was discovered.

Q: What Are Compensatory Damages for Workers’ Comp in Arizona?

A: Compensatory damages (payment provided to an injured party) under workers’ comp in Arizona includes medical coverage for costs related to the workplace injury and may also include compensation for lost wages and income replacement payments.

Lost wages compensation is only awarded if the worker is unable to work for at least 14 days. Wage replacement installments are provided if the worker is unable to work, as determined by their physician, for at least eight calendar days.

Q: What Is the Longest You Can Be on Workers’ Comp?

A: The length of time for workers’ comp depends on the severity of the injury, how long recovery takes, and what the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) finds you qualified to receive. Temporary disability benefits last until the employee’s doctor determines that they can return to work.

Workers on permanent disability in Phoenix, Arizona, may continue to receive payments if the ICA deems them eligible after reviewing their annual income report and if no party files for the rearrangement of the employee’s benefits.

Q: Can I Reopen a Workers’ Comp Case in Arizona?

A: Yes, you can request to reopen your workers’ comp case with the ICA if you wish to acquire additional benefits due to a new, supplemental, or previously undiscovered temporary or permanent condition related to the initial disability.

This may be done by writing a letter to the ICA or through filing a Petition to Reopen form but either method requires an accompanying, current medical report from a physician detailing the relationship between your current condition and the workplace injury.

Q: What If My Employer Fires Me After Being Away on Workers’ Comp?

A: Under Arizona law, no employer is allowed to terminate a worker’s employment because they filed for workers’ compensation or are receiving benefits while unable to return to work. While an employer is allowed to fill your position if you have been absent from work due to recovering from your injuries, they cannot fire you or turn you away should you return to work.

Obtain Adequate Workers’ Comp Benefits After Getting Injured

Workers’ comp attorneys at Arizona Injury Law Group are dedicated to helping clients with all of their legal needs when it comes to filing for workers’ comp, the process of reopening a closed or denied injury claim, enforcing the receivable of benefits, and more. Reach out to our professional legal team to schedule a meeting with us today.