If you get hurt on the job, you should receive workers’ compensation. It seems easy enough, but sometimes an employee’s claim can be denied. If you find yourself in that situation, a Morse workers’ compensation lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers might be able to help.
Types of Injuries That Qualify You for Workers’ Compensation
When many people think of workers’ compensation cases, they probably think of big personal injuries like a fall from a high place, the collapse of scaffolding, or a machinery error that causes grievous injuries. These types of injuries can qualify someone for workers’ compensation, but there are also many other types of harm that can be experienced on the job.
Workers’ compensation can help if you have experienced any of the following:
Serious Injuries
An accident at work can cause broken bones, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injuries, and more. These serious injuries could leave you with lasting ailments and issues that affect your ability to work. They can leave you with expensive medical bills, as well. If you are seriously injured on the job, you should be compensated.
Injuries From Repetitive Motions
Sometimes workers injure themselves over time as they simply go through the motions at work. Repetitive actions can end up straining the body over time. Your shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands are particularly susceptible to these injuries, which can cause pain, numbness, or stiffness. In some cases, these injuries can become conditions that workers must contend with for years or for the rest of their lives.
Exposure to Hazardous Substances
A company that works with hazardous substances should do its best to protect employees. If an accident occurs and you suffer an injury due to exposure to such a substance, you should report the injury and apply for workers’ compensation.
Development of Illness on the Job
In some cases, a worker can end up developing a disease while they are employed. This can also qualify someone for workers’ compensation, even though there is not just one incident or accident to point to and blame for the worker’s current health and condition.
Mental Injuries and Stress
Many people do not know that they may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim when the pain they are dealing with is mental rather than physical. If a work event has caused mental distress, you could make a workers’ compensation claim. A common example of this is making a claim after a store robbery has caused post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Filing Your Workers’ Compensation Claim After Being Harmed at Work
You have to report your injury or illness within 30 days of finding out about it. If you let that time limit run out, you could end up forfeiting your chance to pursue workers’ compensation. Once you have reported the issue to your employer, they should report it to their insurer.
From there, the claim goes into the system and can be evaluated by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration (OWCA). You may need to submit records or go to an appointment with a physician chosen by the agency. Then they will figure out whether to accept or deny your claim.
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How Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Paid Out
Workers’ compensation benefits are paid when a claim is accepted. How much is paid out can vary based on how your injury has affected you, how long it can keep you out of work, and if you are left with a permanent disability. How long you receive benefits can vary as well.
The most important thing is that you can use these benefits to help you pay a variety of bills. Your workers’ compensation benefits can help make up for:
- Hospital bills
- The cost of future medical care
- The cost of vocational rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- The loss of future earning potential
If your loved one passed away due to an injury on the job, their workers’ compensation could also help with bills like funeral expenses and burial costs.
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What Happens When a Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied?
In some cases, a workers’ compensation claim can be denied. This is true even though the workers’ compensation system is a no-fault one, meaning that workers can qualify for benefits if the injury was their own fault.
In some cases, your employer may try to act as if the injury or illness did not result from the job. They might accuse you of lying about where an accident occurred or how severe an injury is. They could also try to blame your current issue on a preexisting condition.
In this situation, you could contact the Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration (OWCA) and fight back. You can file a dispute and fight for the workers’ compensation you deserve. It is at this point that you may want to consider hiring a Morse lawyer.
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How a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Assist With Your Claim
You are not required to hire a lawyer, but one can do a lot to help you when you are disputing a denied workers’ compensation claim. Your attorney can:
- Gather evidence needed to make your claim
- Answer your questions about the workers’ compensation system
- Handle all communications with insurers and other parties for you
- Make your case in front of a workers’ compensation judge
- Defend you from accusations of wrongdoing
We would be glad to tell you more about how we can be of assistance.
Get Your Free Legal Consultation from Our Work Injury Team
Navigating the workers’ compensation system on your own and filing a dispute can be tough, but you do not have to do it alone. If your workers’ compensation claim has been denied, contact the Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers and get your free consultation at your earliest convenience.
We will make it easy to learn more about how a workers’ compensation attorney serving Morse can help you with your case. There is no obligation, so contact our firm today.
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