Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
If you were injured on the job in Louisiana, you may benefit from the legal experience of a Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you fight for the benefits to which you are entitled.
No matter the severity of your employment-related injury or illness, an experienced personal injury attorney could advocate for you to obtain the coverage you need to pay medical bills, make up for lost wages, and handle other costs associated with your injury or condition.
Louisiana Workers’ Compensation System
Louisiana maintains a hybrid workers’ compensation system in which the state agency handling workers’ comp matters does not oversee every claim, but is available to step in for cases of disputed claims, appeals, or alleged misconduct or fraud. The Louisiana Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration operates as a division of the state’s Department of Labor agency.
Louisiana employers may either pay their own benefits or go through a workers’ compensation insurer, but either way they are required to provide coverage for their employees whether those workers are full-time, part-time, contractors, or minors.
That being said, even in cases where employers seem collaborative and supportive, their focus is not necessarily to look out for the best interest of the injured employee. Rather, the employer is often primarily interested in their own bottom line. If someone has sustained a work-related injury, they should contact a Louisiana workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible.
Worker’s Compensation Benefits
In Louisiana, injured workers are eligible for reimbursement for their medical costs, lost wages (called indemnity wage benefits), and vocational rehabilitation. The families of workers who lost their lives on the job may also receive death benefits.
There are several different statutes of limitations and time limits for workers’ compensation that begin when a worker is injured or learns they are experiencing an occupational disease. An experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation attorney can help injured workers adhere to these filing and claims deadlines.
Common Types of Workers’ Compensation Injuries in Louisiana
There are many situations that could lead to a workers’ compensation injury or illness in Louisiana. On top of the kinds of incidents, many people think of when they hear about workers’ compensation, like machinery accidents, toxin exposure, and chemical spills or burns, employees can also receive compensation for long-term injuries suffered from workplace conditions.
These may include cancer from carcinogen exposure, emphysema and other breathing problems, and repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and neck and back problems.
In addition, motor vehicle accidents in cars, trucks, or other vehicles owned by the company may be eligible for workers’ compensation, especially if the accident came as a result of malfunctioning equipment. This same logic may extend on accidents on construction sites or other consistently dangerous workplace environments.
As a Louisiana attorney can further explain, just about any injury at any workplace can be grounds for workers’ compensation provided the employee suffered their injury within the normal course and scope of their job. Injuries resulting from horseplay or non-sanctioned activities on a job site may not be eligible for workers’ compensation.
How a Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help
Whether or not your employer cooperates with and supports your attempts to obtain workers’ compensation benefits, a skilled attorney can be beneficial in working with insurers, your employer, and the necessary state agencies involved.
Having a Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyer by your side throughout the process can ease your mind as you navigate the state’s benefits system. Call today for a consultation.