Police officers have a higher risk of work-related injury or illness than most other occupations
As a police officer, you respond to calls for help, enforce laws and make arrests - all to ensure a safer community for the rest of us. But being a police officer is inherently risky. You're duty-bound to respond to situations that often put you directly in harms way. This results in a much higher prevalence of injury than many other industries.
Common injuries among police officers
You could fall victim to any number of workplace injuries. Some of the most common include:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Officers often face traumatic situations where they are exposed to natural disasters, accidents, sexual and physical assaults, shootings, death, or face threats to their own life. As a result, police and emergency services workers have elevated rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and suicidal thoughts and actions.
Injuries related to being assaulted
Police officers can come under attack in many situations while working to protect the community. In fact, survey data from 2016 shows that at least one police officer is assaulted every day in New South Wales. More recently in 2018, 1 in 3 Victorian police officers stated they had been assaulted in the last year.
Car accidents on the job
Excessive travel is a reality when you're a police officer. Whether travelling to and from work, or on-patrol during duty - the longer you're in a car, the more likely you are to be injured in an accident.
Making a claim
If you're injured while working as a police officer, you'll need to make a WorkCover claim. WorkCover covers all Australian workers. Anybody who suffers an injury at work, or as a result of work, can make a claim for WorkCover compensation and should lodge a claim as soon as possible.
There are several steps involved in making a claim, starting with discussing your situation with a doctor, and reporting your injury to your employer.
Act quickly
Any injury sustained at work needs to be reported to your employer within 30 days. A workers compensation claim also needs to be lodged as soon as possible after your injury, ideally within 30 days of becoming aware of it.
If it has been more than 30 days since you became aware of your injury, you should seek advice straight away. Make sure you speak to a lawyer with Workers Compensation law experience, as this will often result in greater outcomes for you.
We are specialists in police WorkCover claims
We specialise in police officers workplace claims and can assist with providing expert advice at any stage of your Workers Compensation journey.
We are committed to providing an exceptional standard of knowledge and service that provides realistic outcomes for you. We can assist with carrying the burden of the stress involved in the legal process, giving you piece of mind that your legal rights are being looked after.
Speak to us today
Our priority at Slater and Gordon is to ensure you:
Feel supported through the workers compensation process
Understand your rights and entitlements
Assist you with disputes which may arise with the workcover insurer
Maximise your compensation
Provide you with clear and accurate advice about your prospects of success
Meeting with a lawyer shouldn't be an overwhelming experience, to help you you can read more about what to expect when meeting your lawyer for the first time.
You should contact us if:
You have suffered an injury at work
You have suffered a flare-up of an existing injury or disease whilst at work
You have suffered a psychological injury at work
You want to know more about your potential to obtain lump sum compensation
Your employer is pressuring you to return to work
The insurer won't pay for a particular expense
You've never received advice about a workplace injury
You want to know where you stand within the law