If you suffered work-related injuries in Crowley, LA, you could qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Louisiana’s workers’ compensation system helps injured workers like you obtain medical care and receive payment for lost wages after an on-the-job accident.
Hiring a Crowley workers’ compensation lawyer can help you avoid common application mistakes and navigate other potential issues, such as claim denials. Our team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers represents injured workers throughout Louisiana to support their physical and financial recovery.
Who Qualifies for Workers’ Compensation in Louisiana?
Many employers in Louisiana are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance and make it readily available to employees who suffer on-the-job injuries. According to RS 23:1020.1, Louisiana workers’ compensation provides coverage for medical care as well as lost wages, should your injuries prevent you from working.
Most employees are entitled to recover benefits under their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, including part-time, full-time, and seasonal workers. Meanwhile, the Louisiana Workforce Commission says the following individuals are generally exempt from receiving benefits:
- Volunteers
- Real estate sellers
- Domestic employees (i.e., housekeeper, maid, or babysitter)
For a free legal consultation with a workers' compensation lawyer serving Crowley, call (337) 777-7777
How a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help After a Work Accident in Crowley
If a work accident upended your life and you need financial support right away, our team can help you get a claim filed. When you hire us, we will identify any documentation the insurer may need to process your request for benefits and prepare your application.
In addition to assisting with the claims process, our workers’ compensation lawyers here at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can also:
Explain Your Legal Rights
If you aren’t sure what workers’ compensation benefits you qualify to collect, an attorney from our firm will help you understand this after reviewing your case. We can also explain your employer’s legal obligations to you, and the options you have should the company try to deny you access to benefits.
Ensure Your Claim Complies with All Deadlines
Insurance companies set deadlines for reporting injuries and submitting documentation. At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we understand how important it is for you to focus on your health and overall wellness, which is why we will oversee the claims process for you. We will help you complete any forms and documentation and submit them before the stipulated deadlines.
Help You Fight Against a Denial
Insurance companies sometimes deny workers’ compensation for unfair reasons. For example, the company may accuse you of causing the work accident or suggest that the injury or illness isn’t work-related.
Such an accusation could lead to claim denial. Fortunately, when represented by our workers’ compensation lawyer serving Crowley, you can rest assured that we won’t hesitate to fight back if the insurer wrongfully denies your claim.
Intervene If Your Benefits End Too Soon
Workers should receive the opportunity to reach a point of maximum medical improvement (MMI), or they put themselves at risk of reinjuring themselves. If the insurance company attempts to end your benefits too soon, there are a few ways to address this issue.
No one should be forced back into working if their injuries haven’t healed. Our workers’ compensation lawyers are familiar with these tactics and will help you take steps to address them.
Help You Negotiate Your Case Should You Wish to Obtain a Settlement
If you reach a point in your case where you decide you want to settle, a workers’ compensation attorney can explain your settlement options. In order to settle a workers’ compensation case and receive a settlement, all parties involved must agree to the terms and amount.
If the insurance company doesn’t agree to the amount you are seeking, our lawyers can negotiate on your behalf to obtain a fair outcome.
Crowley Workers' Compensation Lawyer Near Me (337) 777-7777
Workers’ Compensation Benefits Explained
Workers’ compensation insurance provides two types of benefits to injured workers in Louisiana. These include medical and indemnity benefits. To better understand the types of workers’ compensation benefits you could collect, read on for some helpful information.
Medical Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If your work-related injuries require medical treatment, the workers’ compensation insurance company should cover these costs. For example, if you were admitted to the hospital or need to visit with your physician regularly for pain management, this should be covered. However, you must file your claim within the allotted timeframe and comply with the insurance carrier’s requirements.
Some of the other medical expenses workers’ compensation could pay for include:
- Medication
- Travel expenses (i.e., driving to and from the doctor)
- Surgery
- Medical devices
- Physical therapy
While some states require injured workers to only seek medical care from an authorized physician, Louisiana allows employees to “select one doctor of his or her choice in each specialty field for treatment of the job-related injury.” Even so, it’s always a good idea to confirm with the insurance company that the physician you wish to render services is approved to provide care.
Indemnity Benefits
Indemnity benefits, often referred to as lost wage benefits, are usually provided to employees who miss more than seven days of work due to their injuries. To receive wage replacement benefits, you will need to show medical documentation that indicates your work-related injury does, in fact, prevent you from working.
If you miss more than seven days of work, you should be able to collect 66 2/3% of your average weekly wages. Wage replacement benefits for temporary total disability (TTD), permanent total disability (PTD), or death become due on the 14th day after your work accident. They are usually paid out on a weekly or monthly basis.
What Are Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB)?
If you return to work but are not earning at least 90% of the wages you were paid prior to suffering a work-related injury, you may also be eligible for SEB benefits. If so, the insurance company will award you 66 2/3% of the difference between the monthly wages you were earning before and the amount you are earning now.
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Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for Support After a Work Injury
Although the workers’ compensation system was created to help injured workers obtain the medical treatment they need and recover a portion of their missed wages, applicants can encounter roadblocks along the way.
If you don’t understand the workers’ compensation claims process or are having difficulty collecting benefits after your accident in Crowley, contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777. Our team of lawyers will walk you through the claims process or devise a plan to address the issue you are experiencing.
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