Police officers have a difficult job. They are often in the line of fire, metaphorically and literally. When officers find themselves under fire from suspects or other parties, it can be a harrowing ordeal. Unfortunately, many police officers and their families are left with the need for workers’ compensation due to serious and fatal injuries resulting from shootouts.
It was recently reported that an officer-involved shooting claimed the life of one California police officer and wounded two others. The officers had responded to a call in which a person claimed that a suspicious van was parked in an area and had firearms and bomb-making supplies inside. The officers arrived at the scene, which caused the driver of the van to pull away. The officers pursued the vehicle, following it into a driveway.
After entering the driveway and getting out of their patrol vehicles, the officers were ambushed by explosives and gunfire. One of the officers suffered fatal injuries in the attack, and the two other officers suffered injuries but are apparently expected to survive. The driver of the van was shot as he attempted to flee and was taken to the hospital for treatment of those injuries. He is currently facing a charge for first-degree murder.
The family of the officer killed in this California incident and the surviving officers are undoubtedly shaken by the ordeal. Their lives will certainly change forever, and it will likely be difficult for them to move on from this event. Because losing a loved one in a work-related incident or suffering injuries on the job can cause financial difficulties, the parties affected by the incident may wish to gain information on their workers’ compensation options, including for survivors’ benefits, to help ease some of the burdens they may face.