Police Injury Attorneys Serving All of Nevada
The Las Vegas law enforcement work injury lawyers at Burg Simpson are proud to stand with the thousands of police officers, sheriffs, detectives, investigators, dispatchers, crime lab analysts, bailiffs, and administrative personnel who work to keep us safe. We value these brave individuals and the services they provide—at every level of law enforcement—by recognizing the risks inherent in their profession. We are dedicated to helping injured law enforcement employees seek fair compensation following on-the-job injury.
Burg Simpson’s Nevada law enforcement work injury lawyers have decades of experience helping injured officers collect workers’ compensation. We are passionate about helping members of this irreplaceable community regain their lost wages, fight for their deserved compensation, and secure the medical benefits they are entitled to. We have fought hard for the law enforcement community for decades. We are here to listen to your story, discuss your options for both workers’ compensation and legal action and help you choose the best way to proceed with your case.
Call Burg Simpson at 702-668-2070 or contact us online to schedule a FREE consultation today. Our Las Vegas law enforcement work injury lawyers serve police officers, prison guards, and all other law enforcement personnel living throughout Nevada.
Common Law Enforcement Workers’ Comp Injuries
Generally speaking, law enforcement personnel injuries fall into one of two categories: acute incidents and constant wear and tear. Acute incidents include things like physical confrontations and car accidents. The other type typically comes from the everyday challenges law enforcement officials endure on the job, such as frequent running, climbing, and carrying heavy loads.
Although law enforcement officials face a variety of hazards at work, two types account for more than half of them:
- Sprains, Strains, and Tears: These injuries can be the result of something as dramatic as a violent encounter with a suspect or as mundane as a slip and fall.
- Soreness and Pain: Law enforcement officials often suffer from chronic pain due to the physical demands of their job. This includes being on their feet for extended periods, carrying 10+ pounds of equipment, and working under various extreme conditions.
In addition to these common injuries, law enforcement officers experience higher than average rates of:
- Bruises and Contusions
- Fractured and Broken Bones
- Cuts, Lacerations, and Punctures
- Disfigurement
While many of the work injuries suffered by law enforcement officials result from interactions with violent perpetrators, several other aspects of the job pose risks for injury as well—sometimes in more insidious and less noticeable ways, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It is important to recognize that the mental and emotional toll of law enforcement work can be just as significant as the physical demands. In Nevada, PTSD and other stress-related injuries are considered a valid reason for filing for workers’ comp (see Nev. Rev. Stat. § 616C.180). Like physical injuries, stress-related injuries can require extensive medical support and time away from work—both of which workers’ compensation is designed to cover. During your FREE case review with one of our Las Vegas law enforcement work injury lawyers, we will discuss potential benefits, the workers’ comp process, and other options that may be available to help you determine how best to proceed with your claim.
Nevada Law Enforcement Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Nevada’s workers’ compensation for law enforcement officers provides benefits for physical injuries sustained while working. It also covers things like contagious diseases and other illnesses that officers may be exposed to.
Heart disease, lung disease, cancer, and similarly life-threatening conditions can be covered by workers’ compensation for police and law enforcement employees. Some law enforcement officers are even provided lifetime access to benefits for the testing and treatment of certain contagious diseases.
In Nevada, steps have been taken to ease the process of filing for workers’ compensation for law enforcement officials. To this end, illnesses and injuries suffered by law enforcement officers are presumed to be work-related, making it easier for officers to receive benefits. While workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance program that does not require establishing fault, some obstacles have been removed for law enforcement employees, helping to streamline and simplify the process.
It is important to remember that, even with a streamlined and simplified process, filing for workers’ comp is seldom straightforward. The Las Vegas law enforcement work injury lawyers at Burg Simpson can help from the outset to make sure your claim is promptly and properly filed. We will help you avoid common mistakes, make sure all of your information is complete, and take every step necessary to help you get your benefits in the shortest amount of time possible.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Law Enforcement Employees
Benefits that may be available for injured law enforcement employees—no matter which department or capacity they work in—include:
- Medical Treatment Coverage. This includes any medical and rehabilitation treatments needed to recover from your injury.
- Temporary Disability Benefits. If you are unable to work due to your injury, you can receive temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. These are typically two-thirds of your average monthly wages.
- Permanent Disability Benefits. If your injury has resulted in a permanent disability, you may be entitled to receive permanent partial disability (PPD) or permanent total disability (TPD) benefits.
TTD, PPD, and TPD coverage continues until you are able to resume working. When needed, workers’ compensation will cover vocational rehabilitation to ensure proper training for a new job as well.
In addition to standard workers’ compensation benefits for law enforcement officers, children and spouses of officers killed in the line of duty may be eligible for death benefits. Understanding that law enforcement can be a dangerous profession, Nevada offers surviving spouses and dependent children monthly wage benefits along with coverage for end-of-life expenses. Recurring wage benefits typically continue for spouses until they remarry. For children, benefits continue until they reach the age of 18 (22 if they are full-time students).
Losing a loved one in a work-related incident can be profoundly impactful on every member of a family. During your free and confidential consultation with one of our Las Vegas law enforcement work injury lawyers, we will provide information about your options to help ensure you are making the decision that will provide the most benefit for your family.
Workers’ Comp Mistakes to Avoid
In Nevada, law enforcement officers do not have to prove fault if they get hurt. Simply having an injury is sufficient cause to file a claim. However, filing your claim and obtaining benefits is more complex than filling out some paperwork. There are several mistakes law enforcement employees can make that can jeopardize their workers’ comp claims. These include:
Ignoring An Injury
No matter how insignificant it may seem, a slight sprain or strain can not only prevent law enforcement officers from performing the most basic of duties. An aching joint can keep you from running. A pulled muscle can prevent you from climbing a fence while in pursuit.
Waiting to Report An Injury
You may have a period of only a few days to report your injury to your employer. You have only seven days to complete the “Notice of Injury or Occupational Disease” form (Form C-1) and only 90 days to complete the “Employees Claim for Compensation/Report of Initial Treatment” (Form C-4). Failure to work within these timelines can disqualify you from workers’ comp.
Leaving Something Out
Once you have reported your injury and been assessed by your employer’s designated medical provider, disclose everything, no matter how minor it may seem. The more your doctors know, the better your ability to file a successful workers’ compensation claim.
Trying to Handle It Alone
Workers’ compensation law in Nevada is highly complex. The biggest mistake you can make is navigating this complicated process by yourself.
Our experienced workers’ comp attorneys have been working with injured law enforcement personnel for more than 40 years, so we are well-versed in this confusing system. We can help you:
- Understand laws about workers’ compensation
- Find and obtain quality medical care
- Receive fair compensation for your injuries
- Obtain reimbursement for legitimate expenses
- Explore third-party personal injury lawsuits if the injury was caused by someone else
If you are a member of the law enforcement community and you have been hurt while doing your job, do not keep quiet or try to handle a complex claim by yourself. Let the workers’ comp lawyers at Burg Simpson help.
Contact Burg Simpson Today
Can Law Enforcement Officers File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
In Nevada, law enforcement officers who are injured on the job may have the option of filing a third-party lawsuit. Workers’ compensation is generally the exclusive remedy for workplace injuries in Nevada. This means employees cannot usually sue their employers for additional compensation. However, when someone other than the employer is responsible for an injury, it may be possible to pursue additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
To file a personal injury claim for an on-the-job injury, law enforcement officers must first prove that a third party was negligent and that this negligence resulted in serious injury. This requires an investigation into the accident, which can delay the compensation process. Fortunately, in Nevada, injured law enforcement officers can receive workers’ comp even while pursuing a personal injury claim (See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 215).
Benefits that may be available through a personal injury claim include:
- Economic Damages. These include medical expenses, current and future lost wages, and anything related to the injury with an associated cost.
- Noneconomic Damages. These include physical pain, emotional duress, and other issues related to the injury that do not have a fixed cost associated with them.
Generally speaking, a personal injury lawsuit will result in more significant compensation. It can, however, take months or even years for these cases to resolve. This makes it all the more important to choose a law firm with experience both in and out of the courtroom for your law enforcement work injury claim.
Our Las Vegas Law Enforcement Work Injury Lawyers Are Here to Help
For more than 45 years, the attorneys at Burg Simpson have been helping injured law enforcement officers seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and more. With a deep understanding of both workers’ compensation and personal injury law, our lawyers make sure police officers, deputies, game wardens, and all others involved in law enforcement fully understand their options and rights following on-the-job injury. We prioritize the needs of our clients, working tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome.
The Las Vegas law enforcement work injury lawyers at Burg Simpson respect, honor, and revere those dedicated to keeping us safe. We are committed to doing everything we can to ease financial burdens, improve medical care, and help injured law enforcement employees get back to work without delay.
Contact Us for a FREE Case Review
To learn how we can help you seek compensation for your on-the-job injury, call Burg Simpson at 702-668-2070 or contact us online today. Our Las Vegas law enforcement work injury lawyers proudly represent the brave individuals keeping the peace in our city, county, and state. We serve injured police officers, administrators, dispatchers, guards, bailiffs, investigators, and all other law enforcement employees who are harmed on the job.
