Compensation for Police Officers Injured on Duty in SC

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Law enforcement ranks among the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the United States. In 2023, thirty thousand law enforcement officers in the US missed work because of injury.

If you’re injured on the job, you may wonder about workers’ compensation for police officers injured on duty. Bobby Jones Law explains what you need to know.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation for Police Officers in South Carolina

An injured police officer may receive workers’ compensation.

Compensation for police officers injured on duty falls under South Carolina workers’ compensation. Generally, it is the same as employees in other professions who are hurt on the job. The injured person notifies their employer of the injury and claims workers’ compensation benefits.

Law enforcement officers face unique and elevated employment hazards. They face harm from assault and battery, and there is a risk of unintentional injury because of the many dangerous tasks they perform. Workers’ compensation provides compensation for injuries that are both common and uncommon in law enforcement.

There are a few ways that workers’ compensation for police officer injuries is different than for other occupations.

Although workers’ compensation generally covers injured law enforcement officers, there are some differences. For example, cardiac events within 24 hours of unusual exertion are presumed to be the result of employment for a law enforcement officer.

This is beneficial. However, the standards for police officers to claim for mental injury alone are high. This is because it’s expected that law enforcement officers face elevated stress in the course of their employment.

Lawyer for Police Officer Injured on Duty in SC

Bobby Jones Law is a lawyer for police officers injured on the job in South Carolina. You can have an attorney represent you in workers’ compensation and the entire claims process.

We represent:

  • Police officers
  • Sheriff’s deputies, sergeants
  • Detectives
  • Corrections officers, jailers
  • Bailiffs
  • Natural resources officers
  • Evidence specialists
  • Administrative and support professionals

Contact us for a consultation with an attorney and get legal help now.

Common Injuries Sustained by Law Enforcement Officers

  • Brain injury
  • Spinal cord injury, nerve damage
  • Disease, occupational illness
  • Back strain
  • Mental health injury
  • Cardiac incidents
  • Organ damage, bone fractures
  • Body sprain and strain
  • Repetitive motion injury
  • Death

Causes of workplace injury for law enforcement officers

Common causes of police officer injury include:

  • Assault and battery
  • Gunshot, knife, and other weapon wounds
  • Transportation incidents, car accidents
  • Training incidents
  • Slips and fall
  • Electrical incidents
  • Blunt force trauma
  • Hazardous exposure, exposure to substances and disease

What Benefits Are Available for Law Enforcement Officers Under Workers’ Compensation?

If you are injured on the job as a law enforcement officer, you may receive:

  • Paid medical care, at no cost to you, until you reach maximum medical improvement
  • Replacement income, as a percentage of pre-injury wages, up to a maximum amount
  • Impairment compensation if you sustain permanent disability
  • Death and burial benefits

Tuition waiver for children of disabled or killed law enforcement officers

When a police officer is disabled or killed in the line of duty, their children may receive four years of tuition-free education at any SC state college, university, vocational, or technical school. The tuition waiver covers undergraduate coursework (S.C. Code § 59-111-110).

For this law, a total disability is the inability to work in any gainful occupation directly because of a line-of-duty injury. If the law enforcement officer is no longer disabled, the waiver no longer applies. In addition, children born after the first year of total disability cannot receive a waiver.

Can Police Officers File Third-Party Claims for On-Duty Injuries?

Yes. Police officers are eligible to file third-party compensation claims for on-duty injuries. If there is a third party—a person, company, organization, or other legal entity—that is legally responsible for the injury, the law enforcement officer may sue them for monetary compensation.

When a law enforcement officer is hurt on the job, a third-party claim is a consideration.

A third-party claim will impact a workers’ compensation claim. However, there may be damages available, such as pain and suffering, that cannot be claimed through workers’ compensation.

Additional benefits

In addition to workers’ compensation and a personal injury award, there may be additional compensation available for police officers injured on duty in SC. An injured officer should review their employee benefits.

For example, the City of Greenville, SC, police department offers life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment benefits. They also offer voluntary disability (short- and long-term) and voluntary accidental injury. An injured officer should review employer-provided benefits and what they elected from their benefits package.

The Impact of Permanent Disability on Police Officers’ Careers

Law enforcement is a physically demanding job. A permanent disability may be devastating to a police officer’s career. They may not be able to continue their role, and career advancement may be impacted because of physical limitations. Officers with permanent disability may face stigma and negative perceptions about their abilities.

However, there may be open roles that are less physically demanding. Still, limited options because of a disability can be frustrating and can impair earnings potential.

There are legal protections for police officers injured in the line of duty, including anti-discrimination laws. A law enforcement officer with a disability may offer diversity and a valuable perspective since a significant part of the public lives with a disability.

When a police officer has a permanent disability because of an injury in the line of duty, an attorney can ensure they receive the benefits and resources that can help them.

Workers’ compensation, third-party compensation, Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, and privately elected disability policies should also be explored to assist the law enforcement officer and their families.

Contact an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

If you are a law enforcement officer who has been hurt on the job or if you are a family member of an injured police officer, we invite you to contact Bobby Jones Law. Talk to an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer today.

We’ll explain how a lawyer can help and how Bobby Jones Law serves law enforcement officers in South Carolina.

Call or message us now.

The team at Bobby Jones Law LLC works tirelessly for the injured in South Carolina. His achievements include:
  • More than $60 million collected for our clients
  • Multiple recoveries exceeding $1 million, including an eight-figure settlement
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America
  • Named among the “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News & World Report
  • Named to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers
  • Named to Super Lawyers 2017–2025
  • Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Selected as Legal Elite of the Upstate 2021–2023
  • Named among Super Lawyers "Rising Stars"
We’re humbled to be considered one of the top firms in the Upstate and invite you to learn what sets our award-winning legal services apart. Call or request a consultation online.
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