Officer in Maryland crash may deserve workers’ compensation

Police officers fasten their badge on before each shift knowing that it could be the last time they report for duty. They are well aware that they may face serious injury or death in the line of duty. Most police officers, however, likely expect that such an event will occur at the hands of a criminal or during a rescue attempt. They likely don’t expect that an injury will come as a result of a preventable traffic accident. One officer in Maryland is likely eligible for workers’ compensation after he was seriously injured in such an accident.

Reports indicate that the police officer, who was on-duty at the time, was traveling in an unmarked police car during the late morning of a November day. Witnesses state that the officer was traveling through an intersection on a green light. Allegedly, the driver of a truck ran a red light and struck the officer’s police car.

The officer was transported to the hospital where he is currently listed in serious condition. The driver of the truck was not injured. Reportedly, the accident reportedly major traffic delays in the area. There is no information regarding charges against the driver of the truck; however, the investigation is likely still ongoing.

Beyond the physical impact of such an accident, the medical care the officer will need as well as time missed from work will also likely have a financial toll on the injured man. Because he was on-duty at the time of the accident,Maryland workers’ compensation benefits will likely apply to help cover the costs related to the accident. Additionally, the injured officer has the option of filing a civil case against the driver for financial damages such as pain and suffering, for example, if he can prove that the driver’s negligence caused the accident.

Source: Baltimore News Journal, Police-involved crash snarls downtown traffic, No author, Nov. 20, 2013