Whether your workplace accident led to a traumatic brain injury, loss of limbs, paralysis, spinal cord injury, or another qualifying medical condition, you may have the right to workers’ compensation benefits.
With help from an Opelousas workers’ compensation lawyer at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, you can turn your attention to your recovery while we handle the insurance company. We can help you get started on your workers’ compensation claim today.
Do You Qualify for Workers’ Compensation in Opelousas?
One of the top questions Opelousas work injury victims have is whether they are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Your ability to obtain workers’ compensation benefits is dependent on meeting the qualifying criteria. To be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must work as a temporary, seasonal, part-time, or full-time employee
- You must have suffered a qualifying injury in a workplace accident
There are many reasons insurance companies deny claims. For example, if you have a pre-existing condition, the insurance company may argue your injuries were not work-related but instead resulted from your pre-existing condition. If you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol or working off the clock, you can also expect the insurance company to deny your claim.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientDoes Your Employer Need to Carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage?
Every state has its own laws in place regarding workers’ compensation. Some states do not require employers to provide their employees with workers’ compensation protection coverage. Others will require companies to do so but, only if they have a minimum number of employees.
Louisiana is a unique state when it comes to workers’ compensation in that it requires employers to provide their employees with workers’ compensation coverage no matter how many employees they have. Even if the company only has one employee, they are required to protect that employee with workers’ compensation coverage.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientWhat Happens If Your Employer doesn’t Carry Workers’ Compensation?
If you suffer an on-the-job injury and your employer does not have workers’ compensation coverage, you can pursue a personal injury lawsuit against your employer. Your employer may have to cover all of your medical expenses, economic damages, and non-economic damages if your lawsuit is successful.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientWhat Medical Benefits does Workers’ Compensation Include?
Medical benefits should cover all of the costs associated with your treatment. In fact, the insurance company may have to cover:
- Co-pays
- Prescription medication costs
- Costs of mental health counseling
- Costs of physical or occupational therapies
- Medical equipment expenses, including the cost of prosthetics, hospital beds, shower rails, wheelchairs, and more
- The cost of accommodations to your home including wheelchair ramps, expanded doorways, and other necessary accommodations
- Diagnostic imaging fees
- Hospital bills
- Ambulance fees
- Future medical care
- Reimbursement for mileage
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientWhat Disability Benefits does Workers’ Compensation Provide?
Disability benefits depend on the injury you suffered and how it affects your ability to work. Disability benefits may replace a portion of your lost income. You can generally expect to collect approximately two-thirds of your average weekly salary for a certain period of time. The Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration (OWCA) sets minimum and maximum caps on the amount of benefits any person can collect. Your attorney can give you a better idea of how much your disability benefits could amount to after reviewing the details of your case.
What Additional Benefits Are Available Through Workers’ Compensation?
Aside from medical benefits and disability benefits, you may qualify for additional benefits through a workers’ compensation claim. For example, you may also receive vocational rehabilitation, death and burial benefits if you lost a loved one in a workplace accident, and mileage reimbursement for your doctor’s visits.
When you work with our Opelousas workers’ compensation team, we can explore all of your options and make sure to submit all the necessary paperwork for your claim. If you received a denial of benefits, we can also help you file an appeal.
You deserve to rest and focus on your health right now. Our legal team can take care of the claims process.
How Long Can You Continue Collecting Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
The amount of time you can collect workers’ compensation benefits can vary considerably on a case-by-case basis. For the majority of workers’ compensation recipients, you may be able to continue collecting benefits until you are capable of returning to work. If you are able to return to work, even on a part-time basis, you may be able to collect Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB) until you can return to work at your pre-injury rate of pay and number of hours.
However, there may be a limit placed on the length of time you can continue collecting workers’ compensation benefits depending on whether you were diagnosed with a scheduled or unscheduled injury, the status of your injury, the severity of your injury, and other important details in your case.
If you have concerns that your workers’ compensation benefits are going to be terminated, our Opelousas workers’ compensation attorney can look into your medical records to determine how long you should receive benefits.
Work With a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Opelousas Today
You should not be stuck covering the costs and figuring out how to cope financially when you suffer a work-related injury. Worker’s compensation benefits are designed to protect work injury victims during their greatest time of need.
Get help accessing the workers’ compensation benefits that are rightfully yours when you hire an Opelousas workers’ compensation lawyer at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for help. Our firm proudly offers no-cost, risk-free consultations to injury victims across Opelousas and surrounding cities. Call us today!
