Injured Security Guards and Families Entitled to Workers’ Comp in Tennessee
When a security guard is killed at work, his or her surviving spouse, or spouse and children are entitled to death benefits if the employment is covered under Tennessee’s workers’ compensation law. These benefits are payable to an employee's survivors based upon a percentage of the employee's wages. The benefits are subject to a cap, but mandatory minimum benefits are provided regardless of the employee’s earnings. Burial allowances are also provided.
A security guard is also likely covered for any injuries he or she sustained as a result of a work-related injury. Lost wage benefits depend on the nature and extent of injuries, but, injured workers are typically entitled to medical and temporary disability benefits.
The benefits afforded to security guards and their families are good news given the risks associated with security work. In June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released an important fact-sheet on work-related hazards for security guards. The report is based on sampling data for injuries, illnesses and fatalities sustained by security guards for the year 2007. According to the report, security guards face hazards different from that of the average worker. These hazards make security guards more likely than other workers to be fatally injured while working, but less likely to sustain a nonfatal injury or illness.
Security guards have a much greater chance of getting killed by homicide than other workers. In fact, homicides made up 50 percent of all fatal work injuries for security guards. The percentage for the rest of the working population is 11. Another 10 percent of fatalities to security guards were caused by assault or other violent acts. Transportation incidents made up 21 percent of fatal injuries with a majority of these incidents occurring on a highway. Falls and equipment accidents constituted only 11 percent of all fatal injuries.
The causes of non-fatal injuries and illnesses for security guards were similar to other professions, but the total number of non-fatal injuries and illnesses were less. For instance, the rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work to recuperate was 107.8 per 10,000 full-time workers for security guards, which was 11.8 percent lower than the rate for all occupations in private industry (122.2 per 10,000 workers).
If you are a facility guard, bodyguard, bouncer, armored car guard or watch guard, and you were injured in a work-related accident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation. Survivors are similarly entitled. When injured, it is strongly advised that you contact an experienced Tennessee workers’ compensation attorney immediately to assist you in what is often a complicated and frustrating process. Contact Baker Associates today for a free consultation.
