On-the-job injuries are far more common than you might think. It does not matter whether you work at a desk job or hard labor, work-related injuries continue to be a cause for concern across Branch and Louisiana.
When you have been injured at work, and you need to figure out how you to continue providing for yourself and your family, you may consider applying for workers’ compensation benefits. However, accessing these benefits may prove to be more challenging than you thought.
Our Branch workers’ compensation lawyers at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can help hold the insurance company accountable.
Our Team Helps With Many Types of Branch Workers’ Compensation Cases
You may not always be sure whether you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in Branch. Approaching your employer to find out may not always be in your best interests. When you file a workers’ compensation insurance claim, your employers insurance premiums could increase. It is more common than you might think for employers to discourage employees from filing workers’ compensation claims after suffering personal injuries.
However, there are virtually endless ways in which work-related accidents can occur. When you have been involved in an on-the-job accident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Some of the more common types of work accidents and injuries that warrant workers’ compensation benefits include:
- Construction accidents
- Factory accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Electrocutions
- Machinery accidents
- Explosions
- Fires
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Slip and fall accidents
- Being struck by falling objects
- Overexertion
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Accidents causing traumatic brain damage
- Accidents causing loss of limbs
- Accidents causing paralysis
If you’ve been involved in another type of accident or suffered another type of injury that was not listed above, you may still have grounds for a workers’ compensation claim. The best way to find out whether you qualify is to speak with your attorney to discuss the details of your accident and resulting injuries.
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Qualifying for Branch Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Under RS 23:1032.1, employers must provide their employees with workers’ compensation protection coverage. This means your employer must purchase workers’ compensation protection coverage and extend it to every employee.
Many employees have concerns that they must have been employed with a company for a minimum of 90 days before being eligible for these benefits. However, your workers’ compensation protection coverage should begin from your first day of employment.
As long as you are classified as an employee of the company, you should be protected by their workers’ compensation insurance coverage. This is true whether you are considered a seasonal employee, a part-time employee, or work full-time hours.
You Can Only Secure Benefits if You Were Actively Working
Your injuries must have happened within the scope of your job responsibilities for you to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. For example, if you were walking to the bathroom in your office job and tripped over an unsecured carpet, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
However, you might not be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if you were off the clock and tripped while walking down to your vehicle. Your attorney can analyze your case’s specific details to determine whether you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Branch.
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What Do Branch Workers’ Compensation Benefits Include?
When you qualify for workers’ compensation, there are certain types of benefits you have the right to recover. Under RS 23:1226, RS 23:1221, and other laws, you may be entitled to one or more of the following types of workers’ compensation benefits after a work-related accident in Branch:
Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits
When your work-related injuries are debilitating and prevent you from being able to continue in your previous line of work, vocational rehabilitation benefits allow you to receive the job training and education you need to enter the workforce in a new industry.
Medical Benefits
Your employers’ compensation insurance provider should be expected to cover all of your medical expenses related to your injuries. This includes ambulance fees, hospital bills, physical therapy, mental health counseling, future medical expenses, and more.
Catastrophic Injury Benefits
Suppose you are diagnosed with a catastrophic injury, such as paraplegia, loss of both eyes, loss of multiple extremities, or another catastrophic injury. In that case, you may be entitled to a one-time payout of $50,000 in catastrophic injury benefits.
Disability Benefits
Disability benefits are designed to provide your family with a portion of your lost wages. Your disability benefits will vary depending on how your injury is classified and what your average weekly earnings were.
The minimum amount you can collect is 20% of your average weekly earnings, while the highest amount is 75%. However, for most injury victims, weekly disability benefits amount to approximately 2/3 of your average weekly salary.
Death Benefits
Death benefits may be available to surviving family members of injured workers that passed away due to work-related injuries. This might include disability benefits and coverage of the decedent’s funeral and burial expenses.
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What to Do if Workers’ Compensation Benefits Aren’t Enough
As can be seen, workers’ compensation benefits may not always be enough to meet your needs. When this happens, you can talk to your attorney to find out more about whether you have the opportunity to file a personal injury lawsuit.
If someone else’s negligence or misconduct caused your work-related injury, you could file a personal injury claim for your work-related injury. However, your ability to pursue both workers’ compensation and civil claims may be limited, depending on the details of your case.
Find out whether you have a right to file legal action when you speak with your workers’ compensation lawyer serving Branch for help.
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Reach Out to a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Branch for Help Today
If your claim for workers’ compensation benefits was denied and you do not know where to turn for help, reach out to a Branch workers’ compensation lawyer at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers.
Our firm proudly offers no-cost, risk-free consultations to workers who have suffered on-the-job injuries across the Branch and nearby cities. Take advantage of this opportunity when you call our office or fill out our convenient contact form to get started.
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