If you suffered an injury on the job, you could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. An Alexandria, LA, workers’ compensation attorney can help you gather evidence and file your claim to receive medical benefits along with other financial assistance.Motor vehicle accidents are another common cause
Our firm has helped thousands of injured workers recover the benefits they need after they sustained injuries at work. We have experience with various types of accidents that could happen at work and know how to build a strong case for you.
On-the-Job Accidents in Alexandria, LA
Our team of Louisiana workers’ compensation attorneys understands the kinds of accidents you could get into while working in Alexandria. Possible job site incidents include:
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents represent one of the country’s primary causes of workplace accidents. Workers often end up:
- Slipping on spills or wet floors.
- Tripping over clutter, debris, or cords.
- Stumbling over uneven flooring.
Workers in any industry may slip and fall, especially if they have to work in an area with poor lighting that makes it hard to see potential hazards. Fall accidents also occur when workers slip off roofs or ladders.
Overexertion
You may develop a repetitive strain injury (RSI) or muscle strain if you overexert yourself while working. Workers often sustain these injuries when they:
- Practice poor lifting techniques.
- Lift heavy objects.
- Perform the same microtasks repeatedly.
- Use improper ergonomics at work.
While physical labor can lead to overexertion injuries, we see many of these injuries in white-collar jobs, too. For example, workers who do a lot of typing without the proper mouse or keyboard may develop an RSI.
Hazards From Falling Objects
Construction workers face many hazards each time they go to work. Many are exposed to risks from objects like tools or supplies falling from above.
Wearing appropriate safety gear can help you avoid these injuries in construction accidents.
Harmful Substances or Chemicals
Some job sites expose workers to hazardous chemicals. Workers may inhale dangerous substances which can cause damage to their respiratory system or experience a chemical spill.
Many chemicals have caustic properties, burning an individual even with brief contact. You should seek prompt medical care if you are exposed to a dangerous chemical while on the job.
Explosions or Fires
Fires and explosions represent a less-common form of workplace injury. However, they still occur in some situations, especially in fields like construction, where workers may participate in controlled demolitions.
Exposure to Toxic Substances
Exposure to toxic substances is one of the more common types of work-related incidents. People who work in construction, factories, and other dangerous lines of work may be exposed to toxic chemicals and other harmful substances.
For example, many construction employees have found it necessary to seek workers’ compensation benefits after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. This is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos, a product that was commonly used to build homes back in the 1970s. Workers become dangerously ill and subsequently diagnosed with mesothelioma only after being exposed to these toxic substances.
Dog Bites
Qualifying for workers’ compensation benefits after a dog bite largely depends on the circumstances surrounding the incident and the nature of your employment. If the dog bite occurred while you were performing job-related tasks or on the employer’s premises for work-related reasons, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
If your occupation involves interactions with dogs, such as mail carriers or delivery personnel, we could review your workers’ compensation plan to clarify what is covered in it. Our Alexandria dog bite lawyers will help you better understand your rights.
Auto Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are another common cause of work-related injuries. Whether you drive for a living operating commercial trucks, delivering food or groceries, or as a taxi driver, if you are required to operate a work vehicle and are involved in a car accident, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
18-wheeler accidents, in particular, can cause catastrophic injuries to the occupants of a smaller vehicle. If you were injured by a commercial driver while performing job-related activities, you could receive workers’ compensation benefits. Our 18-wheeler accident lawyers in Alexandria will determine if you have a valid case.
However, your car accident must have occurred while you were on the job or completing job-related responsibilities to be eligible. For example, if you were involved in a motor vehicle accident on your way home from work, you may not be eligible for benefits.
But if you were making a bank deposit for your boss on your way home from work one night and were involved in a collision, workers’ compensation benefits may apply.
Bicycle Accidents
If the bicycle accident occurred while performing work-related duties or on the employer’s premises for job-related reasons, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. This is particularly applicable if your job involves cycling as a primary duty, such as bike couriers or delivery personnel.
Our Alexandria bicycle accident lawyers are well-versed in workers’ compensation laws and will review your options for financial compensation.
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.
ClientWhat to Do After a Workplace Injury
You must take several steps after suffering an injury while working to secure your rights to compensation. If you suffered a job-related injury, follow these steps:
Report Your Injury
While you have up to 30 days to report your work injury per Louisiana compensation laws, you should report your injury to your supervisor as soon as possible. The sooner you report your injury, the stronger your case will be.
Notifying your workplace earlier than 30 days gives you ample time to collect accurate evidence. If you wait to notify your employer, some evidence could deteriorate and weaken your case.
Seek Medical Treatment
Seek emergency medical care if necessary. According to the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI), If you are seeking non-emergency treatment, you must get approval from your employer before getting treatment over $750.
Seeking medical treatment quickly can help prevent your injuries from worsening and requiring more medical assistance.
Make Sure Your Employer Reports Your Injury
Your employer has ten days to report your injury to its insurance carrier. It must also notify the Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration. You may ask your employer for a copy of the forms they submit regarding your claim.
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 | ClientWork Comp Benefits You May Receive
Our Louisiana law firm has the necessary experience to help you recover the workers’ comp benefits you need to return to your daily life. You may be entitled to recover a variety of different types of workers’ compensation benefits, such as:
Medical Treatment and Mileage
Your employer may be required to pay all necessary medical costs for your workplace injury or illness. You may also be reimbursed for travel to and from these medical appointments.
The costs your employer may be required to pay depend on the severity and type of your injury. Your employer could have to pay for the following expenses:
- Medical tests
- Physical therapy
- Surgeries
- Psychological therapy
Wage Replacement
Workers’ compensation benefits may provide partial wage replacement while you are temporarily disabled and unable to work. These temporary disability benefits payments are typically equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wages, up to a state maximum.
You could receive these temporary disability benefits until your doctor determines you can return to work.
Supplemental Earnings Benefits
You may be entitled to supplemental benefits if you can return to work and your new earnings are less than 90% of your wages before the injury. That amount may be equal to two-thirds of the difference between your wages before and after the injury.
Catastrophic Injury Benefits
If your injury is catastrophic, you may receive a one-time lump-sum payment of $50,000. The following injuries may be considered catastrophic:
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Full anatomical loss of both hands, arms, legs, feet, or eyes, or one of any two of these body parts
Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits
If you cannot perform the same work duties as before, you may be entitled to vocational rehabilitation benefits to provide you with training for a new job. Our workers’ compensation attorney, who handles these cases in Alexandria, can review your case, file the proper paperwork, and pursue the compensation you need.
Death Benefits
Death benefits may be available to the surviving family members of individuals who died from work-related injuries. These benefits can include disability benefits for surviving family members, coverage of the decedent’s medical expenses, and coverage of the decedent’s funeral and burial expenses.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientInjuries and Illnesses Covered by Work Comp
Louisiana’s workers’ compensation system may provide benefits for mental and physical injuries stemming from workplace accidents or occupational diseases. Qualifying injuries and illnesses could include:
- Workplace accident: This can be either a single event that occurs at work and creates an immediate injury or a repeated event that produces a progressive injury.
- Mental injury: Mental injuries may qualify for workers’ compensation if physical injury or stress at work caused them. Like a physical injury, evidence is required to prove a mental injury.
- Occupational disease: This may include a condition associated with a particular trade or occupation the employee works in. An example of an occupational disease is an injury from exposure to toxic chemicals in industries that require employees to use them.
To establish eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits, you must typically show that the injury came from or during your work tasks or activities. Generally, injuries that occur when performing work duties or running work errands may be covered.
There may be some exceptions. If you intentionally injured yourself, were intoxicated, were the aggressor in a work fight, or engaged in horseplay, your injuries may not qualify for workers’ compensation.
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.
ClientWho Is Eligible for Louisiana Work Injury Compensation?
Workers’ compensation covers most types of employees from the day they begin working. The types of workers include:
- Full-time
- Part-time employees
- Seasonal
- Minor
Some subcontractors and independent contractors may also be employees under specific circumstances. In Louisiana, employers must be self-insured or carry workers’ compensation insurance.
Why Should You Hire Our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys?
Our workers’ compensation lawyer in Alexandria, LA, from our law firm, is familiar with workers’ compensation claims in Alexandria and can handle all aspects of your case when we represent you. This may include:
- Gathering evidence that your injuries qualify for workers’ compensation
- Gathering evidence of the value of your damages
- Handling all communications, legal work, and deadlines on your behalf
Our firm can also answer your questions and update you on your workers’ compensation case while you focus on your recovery.
Can You Be Compensated for Pain and Suffering?
Workers’ compensation does not generally cover the cost of pain and suffering. If your physical injury or illness caused an emotional disorder such as depression, insomnia, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you could recover those damages via a personal injury lawsuit.
A lawyer from our firm who handles workers’ compensation cases in Alexandria can identify your damages, estimate the value of your losses, and file a lawsuit on your behalf.
Talk to Our Legal Team Before Accepting a Settlement Offer
Once you settle your claim, no additional benefits may be available. You are not obligated to accept an initial settlement offer if you believe it is unfair.
A workers’ compensation attorney in Alexandria, LA, can help you estimate the value of your case and determine if a settlement offer is fair. If not, we could negotiate a different settlement on your behalf.
Common Reasons for Work Comp Claim Denials
Work injury claims are denied far more frequently than you think. Your employer may even discourage you from filing a compensation claim because when you do, it will increase the amount they are required to pay in annual premiums.
The insurance company may delay the processing of your claim or deny your claim for workers’ compensation benefits altogether. However, that does not mean that you cannot recover the benefits that are rightfully yours.
Some of the more common reasons given for claims denials include:
- Having self-inflicted your injuries
- Having a pre-existing condition
- Failure to file the necessary paperwork
- Lack of adequate medical documentation of your injuries
- Failure to report your injury to your employer promptly
- Failure to file your claim promptly
- Your injuries are not severe enough to warrant workers’ comp benefits
- Making mistakes on your application
Your attorney can work with the insurance company to get your denial reversed by providing them with additional evidence, supporting documentation, and enforcing legal action. If the insurer refuses to reverse your denial, we will be prepared to pursue a formal workers’ compensation appeal.
Reach Out to Our Workers’ Compensation Team for Help
After a work injury, you need a workers’ compensation attorney in Alexandria, LA, to represent your interests. With over 350 years of combined experience advocating for Louisiana workers, we’re ready to help you recover the compensation you qualify for.
Contact Laborde Earles today for a free consultation on your case with a member of our team. We could represent you on a contingency fee basis.
