According to a study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) that was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, non-fatal work-related injuries are rising among law enforcement officers. This is the first national investigation of non-fatal injuries resulting from assaults, accidental falls, and car wrecks involving police officers.
The study, conducted between 2003-2014, reports that 669,100 law enforcement officers were treated in emergency rooms for non-fatal injuries. The leading leading cause of these injuries were from assault and other violent acts. Assault made up more than one-third of work injuries suffered by law enforcement officials during that period.
The NIOSH study also brought to light that law enforcement officials face a higher risk of work injuries. The data states that they are three times more likely to suffer from a work injury when compared with every other line of work. This certainly draws attention to the sacrifice and risk the men and women of law enforcement face each and every day.
Per Texas Penal Code Sec. 22.05, assault is an act that intentionally causes fear of harm or other offensive contacts. Assault is somewhat unique because it doesn’t require contact. A person commits an assault offense if the person:
An assault is considered to be “aggravated assault” if:
Assault is often charged along with the battery. However, with battery, contact of some kind must be made.
In a release by the FBI for 2016 statistics of assault and death of law enforcement officials, most officials were responding to disturbance calls. Suspects used their hands, fists, and feet in 78% of the incidents. Around 4% used guns. Less than 2% used knives or other weapons capable of cutting.
Often, when a law enforcement official is assaulted, they don’t necessarily receive the help and guidance they need to navigate the workers’ compensation system if the assault resulted in an injury. Workers’ compensation can be slow and it can be difficult to get the benefits that are desperately needed for help with medical bills and time lost from work.
Sometimes, law enforcement officials are outright denied for workers’ compensation if they’re hurt on the job. Sometimes, they just don’t get all the benefits they’re entitled to receive. Sometimes, they’re told to file a personal injury claim against the person who hurt them. The personal injury attorneys at Thompson Law can help law enforcement officers injured on the job explore their options.
Law enforcement officers who suffer from a Dallas work injury need experienced representation. Thompson Law has a team of experienced Dallas work injury lawyers that may be able to help law enforcement officials who’ve been hurt on the job.
Our experienced and aggressive legal team can help you determine the type of claim that needs to be filed or if you need to file multiple claims. We can help protect your rights and help you get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
Thompson Law is thankful for Dallas law enforcement officials and we’re here to help. If you’re assaulted and injured, you may have the right to workers’ compensation, or be able to file a personal injury claim.
We provide free case consultations, so call us today. The call is free and totally confidential. Call Thompson Law any time.
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La ley estatal limita el tiempo que tiene para presentar una reclamación después de un accidente con lesiones, así que llame hoy.
