Injured Tennessee officer may receive workers’ compensation

Law enforcement officials work hard to uphold the law and keep everybody safe. This is why it is a shame when one of them is injured while on duty. Unfortunately, this is what happened recently to a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer in an accident which happened while he was parked on the shoulder of the freeway. The officer was hit by a truck in the incident which could result in the officer receiving workers’ compensation benefits.

The driver of the truck was a 59-year-old man who was arrested and charged with vehicular assault as well as a DUI offense. The suspect currently remains behind bars with an unpaid $17,000 bond. The truck driver allegedly crashed into the trooper’s patrol car on the driver’s side. The patrol car already had its warning lights flashing from dealing with an earlier truck accident scene.

The incident which happened around 1:30 a.m. in mid-June fractured the trooper’s neck vertebrae and rib. He also sustained injuries to his arm. After being treated in a local hospital he was eventually released later the following evening. Reports did not indicate whether or not the truck driver or anybody else besides the trooper sustained any injuries.

Unfortunately with those types of injuries the Tennessee Highway Patrol officer will undoubtedly be forced to take some time off work. He will also have to face significant medical bills. However, he may be able to obtain some financial help by filing for benefits via workers’ compensation. This will enable him to retain some financial stability while he takes time off to recover.

Source: knoxnews.com, “Authorities: Trucker who allegedly struck trooper may have been on prescription pills,” Hayes Hickman, June 24, 2013