In Nevada, the Injured Police Officers Fund provides financial assistance to police officers and their families when an officer is injured or killed in the line of duty. This applies to expenses that are not covered by typical worker’s compensation policies.
LVMPD Employee Health and Welfare Trust
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Employee Health and Welfare Trust Plan does not cover work-related illnesses or injuries. However, Las Vegas police officers are entitled to file worker’s compensation claims. If an officer has signed the Health and Welfare Plan, conditional coverage is allowed while a worker’s comp claim is processing, though money received through worker’s compensation payments or settlements must be repaid to the plan.
Since police officers face dangerous workplace risks, Nevada makes it easier for officers to obtain benefits. However, not all job-related injuries are covered by worker’s compensation. If an officer files for worker’s comp benefits, he or she must abide by the plan’s third-party repayment agreement and third-party recovery rules.
The individual must:
- Submit a completed and signed Third-Party Repayment Agreement
- Submit a copy of the C-4 form
- If a claim is approved, submit all information on payments and settlements
- If a claim is denied, submit an official letter showing the denial of benefits
- If a hearing is requested, submit a copy of the scheduled hearing date letter
Filing a Third-Party Lawsuit
In some cases, police officers must pursue civil lawsuits through a worker’s comp lawyer against a third party. Under Nevada law, third-party lawsuits are allowed when an employer is not responsible for a work-related injury. Third-party lawsuits can be handled in civil court.
Police officers are often injured in the line of duty during criminal arrests, drug raids, high-speed pursuits, street riots and protests, and domestic violence incidents. Third-party claims allow police officers and other Nevada employees to be compensated at a higher dollar amount than is allowed by the worker’s compensation system. Unlike worker’s compensation claims, third-party civil lawsuits have no limit to the amount of damages an employee can recover.
Workers’ compensation is generally the exclusive remedy to recover damages for work-related injuries. In some cases, however, filing a personal injury lawsuit in civil court may be an option for Nevada workers who suffer work-related injuries that are caused by third parties or are not covered under worker’s compensation.