If you suffered a work-related injury and must take time off to recuperate, you may be wondering how you will continue to support yourself and your family. Fortunately, you may be able to secure workers’ compensation benefits through your employer.
However, the insurance company may make it more difficult for you to access the compensation and benefits you deserve. With help from an Arnaudville workers’ compensation lawyer at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, you can fight for your rights. We will tirelessly work to get you the compensation you’re entitled to.
Who Is Entitled to Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Arnaudville?
Under Louisiana law, most employers are required to provide their employees with workers’ compensation protection coverage. Your employer should have purchased workers’ compensation coverage through their insurance provider upon hiring.
Many misconceptions surround who is eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in the Lafayette metropolitan area. However, it does not matter whether you are a full-time or part-time employee or a minor or seasonal employee. From the moment you are hired as an employee of the company, it is up to your employer to protect you.
When You’re Not Entitled to Workers’ Compensation
However, that does not mean that suffering an injury at work automatically entitles you to workers’ compensation benefits. Your injury must be within the scope of your job responsibilities. For example, if you were involved in a car accident while working as a food delivery driver, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
But if you were involved in a car accident on your way to work, you may not be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, as you were not on the clock at the time of the accident. If you are interested in learning more about whether you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in Arnaudville, be sure to reach out to our office.
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.
ClientCommon Types of Work-Related Accidents and Injuries
When you are injured at work, you may not be sure whether you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. There are virtually endless ways in which these work-related accidents and incidents occur. Some of the more common types of work-related accidents our firm sees include:
- Overexertion
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Fires
- Explosions
- Electrocutions
- Being struck by falling objects
- Crushing accidents
- Construction accidents
- Factory accidents
- Exposure to toxic or harmful substances
- Bulldozer accidents
- Forklift accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Accidents causing traumatic brain injuries
- Accidents causing spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Accidents causing loss of limbs
These are just a few of the more common types of work-related injuries and accidents. If you were involved in another type of incident or suffered a different kind of injury that was not listed above, you may still have grounds for a workers’ compensation 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 | ClientWhat Do Arnaudville Workers’ Compensation Benefits Consist Of?
If you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, there are many types of benefits you could collect. Some of the most important include medical benefits, vocational rehabilitation benefits, disability benefits, catastrophic injury benefits, and death benefits. Here is more on that:
Medical Benefits
Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance provider will be required to cover all your medical expenses related to your on-the-job injuries. This might include:
- Costs of prescription medications
- Co-pays
- Transportation fees
- Ambulances fees
- Hospital bills
- Costs of physical or occupational therapy
- Costs of mental health counseling
- Diagnostic imaging fees
- Medical equipment such as prosthetics or wheelchairs
- Home accommodations, including wheelchair ramps or shower rails
- Costs of future medical care and expenses
Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits
In some work-related accidents, injuries may be so severe they make it impossible for you to continue in your current line of work. Should this happen, you may be entitled to vocational rehabilitation benefits.
Here, the insurance company will be required to cover the costs of your educational opportunities or job training so you can find gainful employment in another line of work.
Disability Benefits
Disability benefits are meant to replace a portion of the income you are losing by being unable to work. The amount of disability benefits you will receive can vary widely based on the severity of your injuries and your average weekly earnings.
In some cases, you may be able to collect as much as 75% of the statewide average weekly earnings. However, you could collect as little as 20% of your average weekly earnings in other cases. Generally, you can expect to collect around 2/3 of your average weekly earnings until you can return to work.
It is crucial to remember that there may be a maximum number of weeks allowed for you to collect benefits based on the type of injury you are diagnosed with. To find out how much your disability benefits will amount to, work with our Arnaudville workers’ compensation lawyer, who can inform you of this and more.
Catastrophic Injury Benefits
If you suffered a catastrophic injury, Louisiana law requires you to be paid a one-time award of $50,000. Some examples of injuries that may be considered catastrophic include:
- Loss of both eyes
- Loss of two or more extremities
- Third-degree burns over a minimum of 40% of the body
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
Death Benefits
When an employee passes away due to a work-related injury, their surviving family members may be entitled to death benefits. The amount of death benefits your family could receive will vary based on the decedent’s average weekly earnings.
If the decedent did not have any dependence upon their passing, the decedent’s biological or adopted children may be entitled to a one-time, lump-sum payment of $75,000.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientBegin Working with Our Dedicated Lawyers
Workers’ compensation claim denials are far more common than you might think. With help from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, you can go up against the insurance company and secure the benefits you are entitled to.
When you are ready to get started on your case, fill out our online contact form or call our office for your no-cost, risk-free consultation.
