On-Duty Police Officer Injured in Texas Car Accident
Police officers often spend a significant portion of their day on the road, and as a recent Texas car crash demonstrates, this can put them at risk of injury. A Houston officer suffered a leg injury when another driver failed to yield the right of way at an intersection and collided with the officer’s vehicle. In the case of an on-the-job car accident such as this, an officer may be entitled to both workers’ compensation benefits and compensation through a personal injury lawsuit against a third party.
The Limits of Workers’ Compensation in Texas
Police officers and any other employees who are injured while driving on the job may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if their employer offers them, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. However, employers in Texas are not legally required to have workers’ compensation insurance, so these benefits may not always be available. Even when they are, they can only cover reasonable medical expenses and a portion of the employee’s weekly wages if he or she misses more than seven days of work due to the injury. In many cases, injury victims must look elsewhere to receive full compensation for their damages.
Personal Injury Lawsuits for Work-Related Injuries
If your work-related injuries were caused by the negligence of someone other than your employer, you can pursue compensation through a personal injury claim against the third party. In the case of an on-the-job car accident, this often means filing a lawsuit against the other driver, especially when you know or suspect that the driver was speeding, distracted, under the influence of alcohol, or otherwise responsible for the crash.
In a personal injury lawsuit, you can pursue compensation for your medical bills in cases in which your employer does not offer workers’ compensation benefits, and you can also recover damages for lost income from any missed time from work or effects on your working capacity, including for the first seven days. In the case of a serious injury with long-lasting impacts on your life, you may also be able to pursue noneconomic damages for pain and suffering, which are not available through workers’ compensation.
Contact a New Braunfels Work-Related Accident Attorney
At The Bettersworth Law Firm, we stand up for the rights of police officers and other employees who are injured on the job, especially when a third party is responsible. We can help you determine whether workers’ compensation, a personal injury claim, or both, is your best option for obtaining full and fair compensation. Contact a New Braunfels personal injury lawyer today at 830-443-9193 for a free consultation.
Sources:
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/houston-officer-left-with-leg-injury-after-driver-fails-to-yield
https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/employee/index.html
