Quite often Minnesota police officers with serious on-duty injuries wait to speak with a lawyer until they’re dealing with a legal mess. What I hear from these individuals is since they assumed that they had a “legitimate” injury, they didn’t think they needed a lawyer. Or they assumed their department would take care of them – until they were terminated. Or, since the workers’ compensation insurer was paying, that they didn’t need an attorney – until the workers’ compensation insurer stopped paying benefits. Or, that their friend went through the process and has been giving them some “guidance” on how to navigate the system.

Whatever the injury or illness, the road to recovery rarely follows a straight line. Whether you sustain a back injury requiring surgery, or you are struggling with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the recovery process is personal to you and will depend on the type and severity of the injury (or injuries) you sustained. This is especially true for catastrophic injuries and those that involve multiple body systems.

Police officers pay into the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). PERA offers a number of benefits to police officers who pay into PERA, one of which is a regular retirement pension. Under PERA once an officer reaches age 55 with at least 20 years of service they are eligible for a full pension which is 60% of their high five. While an officer can consider an early retirement starting at age 50 there can be significant penalties or other limitations on the benefits they would receive. In short, whether an officer works for Minneapolis, St. Paul or another department, retiring under PERA is simply not an option for many of Minnesota’s police officers.

In Minnesota there is actually a presumption between firefighters and certain types of cancer based on research that is being done. The authority on this is the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and as we learn more about the different types of cancers and carcinogens, it has an effect on the law and the ability for injured firefighters to bring a claim. This can also have effect on the statute of limitations. If the firefighter has been diagnosed with cancer, it’s important that they reach out and talk to someone who specializes in this area of the law. That way they can get the latest information on their ability to bring a claim.