Experienced Guidance From A Chicago Attorney

Last updated on March 4, 2025

Are you a police officer who suffered an injury? At Eames Law Group, we want to help you. Our police officer injury attorneys have experience handling the many complex steps of workers’ compensation claims and other legal issues for law enforcement officers. From our office in Chicago, we serve police officers throughout the state of Illinois.

What Are The Benefits For Officers Injured In The Line Of Duty?

For police officers, a disability that results from an act on duty provides significant benefits. For officers employed outside of Chicago, a line of duty disability pension qualifies them to receive benefits. Benefits for officers outside of Chicago will amount to 65% of their salary. Police officers employed in Chicago are entitled to 75% of their salaries while injured in the line of duty.

Qualifying for a line of duty pension requires the injured police officer to submit a formal application with the pension board. The pension board will conduct a hearing and make a determination as to whether the employee qualifies for the line of duty pension. They will also decide whether the employee is qualified as disabled and whether said disability was the result of an act of duty.

What To Know About Police Officer Line Of Duty Deaths

The Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (PSEBA) is an Illinois law that provides a lifetime of employer funded insurance benefits for police officers who are injured or killed in the line of duty. This benefit is also provided for the injured or deceased employee’s spouse and any dependent children. In order to qualify, the catastrophic injury must have occurred under one of the following circumstances:

• The officer’s response to fresh pursuit.
• The officer’s response to what is reasonably believed to be an emergency
• An unlawful act perpetrated by another
• During the investigation of a criminal act
• Training exercises may qualify as an emergency situation

Important Police Officer Injury Benefits Terms To Know

• Payment of medical expenses: Medical expenses that are reasonable and related to the employee’s work injury.
• Payment of appropriate sum: Permanent impairment resulting from the work injury will result in appropriate payment.
• Temporary total disability benefits: Payment of temporary total disability benefits (TTD) for the entire time the injured employee is unable to work for his or her employer due to the work injury. (These payments are 2/3 of the employee’s average weekly wage tax-free.)
• Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act: The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (IWCA) is a law that provides benefits to just about all workers in Illinois who suffer injuries. The injuries must arise out of and occur in the course of their employment.
• Pensions and disability pensions: The Illinois Pension Code contains special provisions providing benefits to police officers who have become disabled and can no longer perform their professional duties. The code contains provisions providing benefits for both disabilities that result from line of duty incidents as well as not on duty incidents.
• On duty and off duty: Both on-duty and off-duty police officers qualify to receive benefits from the Illinois Pension Code. Officers injured in the line of duty are entitled to 65%-75% of their salaries, while police officers injured not on duty are entitled to 50% of their salaries.
• Public Safety Employee Benefits Act: The Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (PSEBA) is an Illinois law that provides a lifetime of employer funded insurance benefits for police officers who are injured or killed in the line of duty.
• Public Employee Disability Act: The Public Employee Disability Act (PEDA) is an Illinois law that provides financial protection for police officers who suffer the misfortune of being injured in the line of duty. These benefits last for one full year.

Taking On Your Police Injury Workers’ Compensation Claim

Most police officers in Illinois who suffer a work-related injury are entitled to apply for and receive benefits pursuant to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. This act includes payment of medical expenses and payment of temporary disability benefits while recovering from their injury. There is also an appropriate award for permanent impairment as a result of the injury.

Get The Service Of Our Police Officer Injury Attorneys

When you need legal advice on how to get your benefits after an injury, you can turn to us at Eames Law Group. Please call us at 312-319-8350 or email us to make a completely free, confidential initial consultation with a police officer injury lawyer.