A police injury claim for an injury while on duty seeks compensation for the effects of the injury today and in the future. A police officer may be injured in an accident that was not wholly their fault while on duty and may be able to claim compensation. 

Every police officer on duty is at work, and if they suffer a personal injury, they could have a workplace injury compensation claim. A police officer could suffer an injury in a road traffic accident, an assault or in a slip, trip and fall accident and may have a claim for compensation. 

The other road users, the property owner and members of the public owe you a duty of care. If they breach that duty of care and cause you a personal injury, then you may have a personal injury compensation claim. 

A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor can look at your case if you are injured while on duty as a police officer and see if you have a valid police injury compensation claim.

Police Injury Claim

Table of Content

What is a police injury claim?

A police injury claim is when a member of the police force makes a compensation claim for an injury suffered while on duty. Any police officer could suffer an injury while in the workplace and may have a police injury claim. 

In a recent research survey involving over 10,000 police officers in the UK, 81% of officers said they experienced an injury or mental health issue in the workplace. 45% of police officers said they needed to take at least a week off work to recover from the effects of the injury. One in five members of the police force report experiencing PTSD due to incidents they encounter while on duty. 

An injury while on duty can be a physical as well as a mental health issue. It may take time for a mental health issue to surface, and it may be after the effects of the physical injury have passed. 

A police injury while on duty claim may be able to seek compensation for the effects of the injury today and in the future. 

A Personal Injury Team solicitor can make your compensation claim for injury while on police duty.

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Common injury claims made by police for compensation

Common injury claims made by police for compensation range from injury in a road traffic accident to assault and PTSD. Every police officer puts themselves in danger while on duty, but if they are injured in an accident that was not their fault, they could have a police injury claim. 

A police injury claim can be for the broken leg, the knife wound or the nerve damage after a fall, but you may be able to claim compensation for the damages. 

Some common police injury while on duty claims:

claims made by police for compensation

Police injury in a Road Traffic Accident claims

Police injury in a Road Traffic Accident, RTA, claims are for the many injuries seen in road traffic accidents anywhere in the UK. A police officer may be injured off a bicycle, motorbike, squad car or police van, and they could have a police injury while on duty claim. 

Claims made by police officers following an RTA while on duty:

  • Police officer suffers facial injury in fall from bicycle
  • Police officer breaks a leg due to a collision while on duty
  • Police officer was knocked down while on traffic duty and broke an arm

If you suffer a workplace injury of being injured while on police duty, you could have a police injury claim.

Police injury in an assault claims

Police injury in an assault claims are for the many ways a police officer could be attacked and injured while on duty. Police work is dangerous work, and a police officer can suffer an injury at any time of the day or night and could have a compensation claim for the effects suffered. 

Workplace injury claims made by police officers for an assault:

  • Police officer suffers a stab injury because of a lack of a protective vest
  • Police officer assaulted due to not having backup while on duty
  • Police officer assaulted due to lack of crowd control training

The stab wound, broken jaw, and head injuries suffered while on police duty could put you in line to make a police injury compensation claim.

Police injury in a slip, trip and fall claims

Police injury in a slip, trip and fall claims are often for the back injury, broken finger, and soft tissue injury a police officer may suffer while on duty or in training. The police authority has a duty of care to officers, and if they breach that duty of care, a police officer could suffer an injury. 

Types of slip, trip and fall claims made by police officers on duty:

  • Back injury from a slip on the wet police station floor
  • Broken wrist after fall on a broken set of steps while at work
  • Soft tissue injury after fall in poorly maintained police station carpark

If you are a police officer injured while on duty, you could have a police injury claim for compensation.

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PTSD police injury claims

PTSD police injury claims are for the after-effects of the trauma experienced by a police officer while on duty. The stressful effects of the life of a police officer, combined with experiences of serious crime, can have a long-term impact on their mental health. 

Claims for PTSD by a police officer:

  • Police officer suffers mental health issues due to lack of counselling services
  • Police officer suffers PTSD after assault when not adequately trained
  • PTSD in police officer due to bullying in the workplace

Any PTSD claim for a police officer while on duty can seek compensation for the effects on their life today and in the future.

Repetitive Strain Injury while on police duty claims

Repetitive Strain Injury while on police duty can happen to the officer on desk duty as well as the police officer on patrol in the police van or car. 

An RSI can affect nerves, muscles, and soft tissue and can have a lasting effect on your ability to perform your police duty. 

RSI injury claims while on police duty can be:

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in an officer on desk duty without a break
  • Lower back nerve damage due to faulty seat in police van
  • Tennis Elbow in police officer after heavy lifting without support equipment

The effects of the RSI on a police officer while on duty can restrict their movement and affect their eligibility for promotion, and they could have a compensation claim for a workplace injury.

If you suffer an injury while on police duty, you could have a compensation for a police injury claim. 

A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor can handle your claim and seek the compensation you deserve for the police injury while on duty.

Compensation for a police injury claim

Compensation for a police injury claim while on duty can range from more than £10,000 to over £100,000, and some police officers injured in the workplace may see compensation amounts in excess of £10 million. 

A police officer injured at work claim could be for the broken jaw in an assault or the stab wound when not issued with protective clothing. The injury while on duty claim could be for the torn ligaments in a slip, trip and fall accident at the police station. An injury in a road traffic accident could put the police officer in line for a compensation claim. 

A police injury while on duty could affect your ability to work or find similar work in the future, and you may need time off driving to recover fully from the road traffic accident, assault injury or slip, trip and fall accident. 

You can claim compensation for the effects of the police injury today and in the future. The amount awarded depends on the severity of your injury and the impact it has on your life.

Amounts of compensation in a police injury claim are:

  • Injury to the hand in a road traffic accident while on duty from £5,720 to £13,280
  • Police officer elbow injury while making an arrest from £15,650 to £32,010
  • Shoulder injury from a fall at the police station from £19,200 to £48,030
  • Wrist injury after a trip in a police station carpark from £47,620 to £59,860
  • Broken jaw in an assault when making an arrest from £39,170 to £59,860
  • Pelvis injury in an RTA when driving on police duty from £78,400 to £130,930
  • Neck injury with fractures and incomplete paraplegia from £45,470 to £148,330
  • Severe back injury and chronic pain after crash in police van from £91,090 to £160,980

(The figures given here are for General Damages amounts only. You will also receive compensation for any financial losses you suffer due to the personal injury. Figures are taken from Judicial College Guidelines 16th Edition and are accurate as of April 2023.)

Personal injury claim calculator

There is not one fixed amount for a police injury claim, and the compensation awarded for the soft tissue injury, stab wound, or broken arm will be tailored to the circumstances of your claim.  

A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor can tell you what to expect from their experience in police officer injury while on duty compensation claims.

Our Process

We make the claim process as simple and streamlined as possible, and that’s one of the reasons we’re maintain a 4.9 / 5 ★ rating from our customers!

Enquiry

The first step is to get in touch and tell us what went wrong. It’s free and easy. Call our 24-hour helpline: 0800 027 0370 or request a callback here.

Claim Evaluation

Once you have spoken with our team we’ll let you know how we can help. This will involve a thorough case review and understanding of the incident, financial damages and physical injuries.

Legal Letter

Once we are satisfied we have all the information we require and have a full understanding of your circumstances. We send a letter of claim to the negligent party outlining your claim and compensation requirements.

What are you being compensated for in a police injury claim?

In a police injury claim, just like any personal injury claim, you are being compensated for two types of damages:

In a police injury claim, you claim General Damages for PSLA, the Pain, Suffering and Loss of Amenity you experience directly from the personal injury suffered in the accident that was not your fault.

You may suffer Pain as a direct result of the assault while on duty, the injury in the RTA or while at the scene of a crime. The injury to your body, limbs and the head can be painful, and you can claim for any medical treatment needed.

You will experience Suffering while you recover from the assault injury, the road traffic accident injury and the slip, trip and fall injury today and in the years to come after a police officer injury while at work.

You can also claim for the Loss of Amenity in your daily life, such as difficulty or restriction in walking, sitting, playing sports, and sleeping due to the injury suffered in an accident that was not wholly your fault.

You seek compensation for Special Damages in a police officer injury claim to cover your costs today and future financial losses after an injury while on duty in the police station, when in the police car or at the scene of a crime.

These could include loss of earnings while recovering, as well as care costs and medical treatment for an injury after the accident while on police duty, and any long-term treatment expenses. You can also claim for specialist rehabilitation, aids, adaptations, and any other out-of-pocket expenses you have or will suffer due to the police injury.

Compensation is awarded to cover all losses, including income, medical expenses, and long-term care needs arising from the injury while driving the police car, when investigating a crime or when on desk duty at the police station.

You will need payslips and all day-to-day receipts, such as accommodation costs, the costs of travel to medical appointments, physical therapy, and all other out-of-pocket expenses incurred after the police injury.

A No Win No Fee solicitor handles your police injury claim to get you the compensation you deserve for all the costs and expenses of the injury suffered in an accident that was not wholly your fault.

The amount of compensation awarded for your police injury claim is the total of these two types of damages.

Who is eligible to claim for a police injury?

You may be eligible to claim for a police injury if it happens in an accident that was not your fault or wholly your fault while on duty as a police officer. 

A police officer may be able to claim for an injury due to a poorly maintained police vehicle or badly-kept police station and carpark. You may also have a claim if in a road traffic accident with another road user while on duty.

Dependents may be able to claim compensation if a loved one cannot represent themselves after a police injury that was not their fault or only partially their fault. 

A dependent is defined as:

  • A spouse or former spouse
  • Someone who lived with the injured party for two years before the accident as a husband, wife, or civil partner.
  • Blood children adopted children or those who became children through marriage or civil partnership
  • Parents and those acting as parents, such as a guardian or step-parents
  • Grandparents or great-grandparents
  • Brothers, sisters, cousins, and other direct relatives

You may be able to claim compensation if you depend on someone who cannot represent themselves after a police injury, such as a relative shot, or injured in an RTA while on duty, or who may have passed away due to the effects of the police injury. 

Your No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor can help with your compensation claim.

How to make a personal injury claim as a police officer

To make a claim for police officer compensation while on duty, there are usually a few standard steps to follow.

Before making a claim and as soon as you suffer an injury while on duty, you should:

  • Report the injury sustained while on duty to your line manager
  • Have the injury logged on the Police Force’s reporting system

  • Report any injury that has you off work for more than seven days to the HSE

A police officer may be injured while on duty due to a breach of duty of care by the police force. You may have a compensation claim if it happens to you.

We will guide you through the entire process from first contact through to the conclusion of your claim.

steps in making a personal injury claim

Instruct a No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor as soon as possible. A solicitor can look at your case and see the extent of your injury while on police duty and see if it could form a compensation claim.

Only a No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor will have the experience and the team to handle your claim – they will know what your claim may be worth and how to get the best results for you.

You may require medical treatment or investigation if you have suffered an injury while on police duty. It is vital that the nature and extent of your injuries are contemporaneously recorded in your medical records.

This may be in a consultation with your GP if you have less severe injuries which do not require immediate treatment but do not clear up in a reasonable timeframe. You may need investigations, referral to a specialist, or maybe physiotherapy.

Of course, in a severe or life-threatening injury, you will attend A&E, and the hospital medical records will detail your injuries and treatment.

The solicitor gets all the details and evidence to support your case in the next step of the police injury claims process.

Your Personal Injury Team solicitor will speak to you and obtain a detailed description of what happened to cause the fall at the police station, the injury from being assaulted at work or when you were in an RTA. The solicitor will need to know details of any injury suffered and the financial losses you sustained.

An experienced personal injury expert will assess the case.

If they confirm you have a valid police injury compensation claim, they can discuss the next steps in the process with you and answer any of your questions.

The solicitor submits the claim for police officer injury compensation to the negligent party who may be responsible for your injury. Your solicitor submits the claim by writing to the negligent party to outline your possible claim.

The negligent party has to give a written response to your solicitor’s letter within twelve weeks of receiving it.

Your Personal Injury Team lawyer will advise you of the time limit applying to your case and what to expect during the process.

Getting the response from the negligent party informs your personal injury solicitor how the case for police injury compensation is likely to proceed.

The negligent party can either admit liability in the case or state that they intend to defend it.

When the negligent party decides to defend the case, it is known as ‘denying liability’ in legal terms.

If the negligent party admits liability, which often happens, your personal injury solicitor will obtain medical evidence. You may need to have a consultation with a medical expert, which your solicitor will arrange.

Once completed, medical evidence and details of your financial losses will be sent to the negligent party’s insurer.

The negotiation period then starts, often resulting in the settlement of your claim. You would be closely involved in this process and given expert advice throughout – no compensation would be agreed upon without your authority.

In very large claims, you will likely have to see several medical experts over a longer period. When the injuries suffered are significant, it can take a long time until the final prognosis is known.

Your solicitor will advise you on the likely timescales and when, tactically, will be the best time to enter settlement discussions with the defendant.

Often, claims for life-changing injury will be negotiated at a “settlement meeting” with the defendants. The two sides may meet, and during the meeting, your case will be outlined, and negotiations will take place.

You would be at this meeting and be closely involved in this process, and no settlement would be agreed upon without your authority.

At this stage, your solicitor, and sometimes a barrister, will handle the meeting and advise you on what is on offer and what level of compensation to accept.

Going to court is the final step in a police officer injury while on duty compensation case if the negligent party does not accept responsibility for the negligence or if the negligent party admits liability but refuses to pay you a fair amount in compensation.

Issuing court proceedings is handled by your solicitor.

Although court proceedings are started in some cases, very few police injury cases make it to a court case before a judge. The vast majority will settle before having to issue court proceedings, and even where proceedings are issued, few cases end up at a trial.

Your Personal Injury Team solicitor will advise you through the entire process from start to finish.

Schedule Your Callback

Have you been involved in a personal injury? We specialise in pursuing damages to make sure you get the maximum compensation possible. It’s free and easy to speak with one of our team of claim experts.

Police road traffic accident claim

A police road traffic accident claim in the UK seeks compensation for the effects of an injury from any form of road traffic accident. 

You may be injured while on duty in a car crash, as a pedestrian, as a motorbike rider, a cyclist or when directing traffic, but if the accident was not wholly your fault, you could have a road traffic accident claim. 

Police injuries while on traffic duty are also road traffic accident injuries. If your accident may be due to incorrect training, a lack of duty of care by another road user or a poorly maintained police car or van, you could have a compensation claim. 

If you are injured in a road traffic accident that was not your fault or not wholly your fault, you may have a police road traffic accident claim. 

It may be an RTA claim if your police car is hit from behind by a driver not paying attention or if the brakes fail on a police car that should be in for service. There are many types of road traffic accident claims, and your police officer injury while on duty could be one, too.

A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor can look at the details of your injury and see if you have a valid police injury road traffic accident compensation claim.

road traffic accident compensation

Workplace Injury Claims UK

Workplace injury claims in the police force are for compensation for an injury caused at work, such as the stab injury when not provided with protective gear or the simple slip, trip and fall accident around the police station. 

Your employer, the police force, owes you a duty of care, and when they breach that duty of care, causing your police injury, you may have a workplace injury claim. 

Employers have a legal duty to provide a safe place to work. A workplace in the police force could be the police station, your police car or van, or anywhere you are investigating a crime. 

When on duty as a police officer, you are in the workplace, and wherever you suffer an injury, your employer has a duty of care to you once you are ‘on the clock.’  

A police officer has a dangerous job. They could be in danger in the workplace regardless of whether they are at the police station, in the squad car, or even directing traffic at a busy road junction.

Every employer owes a duty of care to employees and avoid workplace accidents by:

  • Providing health and safety training to all officers
  • Keeping the police station a safe place for employees
  • Maintaining police cars and vans as safe for duty
  • Carrying out police activity according to safe procedures
  • Carrying out risk assessments of all tasks
  • Ensuring the correct number of staff are on duty
  • Ensuring police officers have access to safety information for their work
  • Having all police officers properly supervised by trained staff

You could suffer a police injury at any stage of being on duty, and you deserve workplace protection under the law. 

You may have a workplace injury claim if you suffer a police injury that was not your fault or only partially your fault.

Workplace injury compensation

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Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 outlines the responsibilities of employers and employees when creating a safe workplace for all—a police injury while on duty may be avoidable if the employer follows the Health and Safety Act.

The Act covers every aspect of health and safety in the workplace for the UK and has proved invaluable in the 50 years since its inception. 

Standardisation of health and safety guidance makes it clear what is expected in the workplace from employers and employees. Under the 1974 Act, employers know where their duty of care to employees and members of the public lies. 

In the same vein, employees are made aware of their duty of care to their fellow employees when at work. The Act also covers the self-employed and the expectations around them as employers and when in the workplace. 

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is also known as the HSWA, the HASAWA, the HSW Act and sometimes simply the 1974 Act. 

The Act is clear in what the expectations are for everyone in the workplace and how breaches of it may be prosecuted in the courts and be subject to fines or compensation claims when an injury results. 

You may be able to make a claim for a workplace injury, such as a police injury, if your employer breaches the HSW Act, leading to your accident.

What can happen if you are fired for making a police injury claim?

If you are fired for making a police injury claim, you may be able to file a further claim for unfair dismissal. You should not lose your job or be passed over for promotion for making a personal injury claim against your employer.

Workers’ rights legislation protects most employees from unfair dismissal, including members of the police force. If you lose your job or fail to be promoted after making a compensation claim, it would be considered an unfair dismissal.

Every police officer has a right to be protected in the workplace under employer legislation. The police force has a duty of care to all officers on duty, and if they breach that duty of care and you suffer an injury as a result, you could have a police injury compensation claim.

A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor can make your claim for police injury compensation.

Make a police injury claim today

Make a police injury claim today for your injury while on duty by contacting the Personal Injury Team. Use our online assessment tool to determine how much you can claim for your police injury and take that first step to make a claim. 

Your PTSD, assault injury, broken limb or soft tissue injury from the workplace injury may be with you for life, and you may be able to claim compensation for the damages involved. 

The Personal Injury Team FREE online assessment tool will put you in direct touch with one of our team, who will give you a full rundown of what can happen with your personal injury claim. 

Compensation amounts for a police injury while on duty claim vary, and expert advice from one of our team members can help you with an idea of compensation for this or any workplace injury.  

Only by contacting one of our team will you get a personal injury claim up and running today. 

Contact your Personal Injury Team today for immediate and expert police injury advice tailored to you.

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