No one ever expects to suffer a catastrophic or life-threatening injury at work. However, when you are involved in a work-related accident and suffer injuries that substantially impact your life, you may have the right to workers’ compensation benefits.
Get help pursuing your rights when you connect with a Port Barre workers’ compensation lawyer at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers.
Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Laws
Louisiana law requires almost all employers to carry workers’ compensation protection coverage. This coverage must cover all employees, whether seasonal, part-time, or full-time. If an employee is classified as such, they should be protected by workers’ compensation benefits.
It does not matter how long you have been employed with the company; your employer should provide you with coverage from the first day of your hiring. If you suffer a work-related injury, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits that could help you get through your recovery. If your injuries occurred within the scope of your employment, you may have the right to workers’ compensation benefits.
However, do not expect the insurance company to approve your claim without a fight. Workers’ compensation insurance providers are still for-profit insurance companies that will lose money if they pay out on your claim. Your attorney will carefully examine the details of your case to ensure you meet state workers’ compensation eligibility requirements.
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.
ClientWhen to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Port Barre
There are endless ways work injuries and accidents can occur. However, some types of work-related accidents and incidents occur more frequently than others. Some of these include:
- Construction accidents
- Bulldozer accidents
- Forklift accidents
- Scaffold accidents
- Ladder accidents
- Machinery accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Overexertion
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Electrocution
- Explosions and fires
If you were involved in another type of on-the-job accident that was not listed above, you may still have grounds for a claim. To find out what your legal options are, reach out to our Port Barre workers’ compensation lawyer for help.
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 | ClientQualifying for Workers’ Compensation Benefits
To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you must have suffered a work-related injury. However, proving that your injuries were within the scope of your employment may be more challenging than you thought.
For example, if your boss asked you to stop at the bank to drop off a deposit on the way home from work one night, and you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
However, if you were stopping at the bank for personal reasons, you may not be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. As can be seen, proving that you are eligible for worker’s comp. can be difficult. With help from our firm, you can show the insurance company you met the qualifying criteria.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientWorkers’ Compensation Benefits
There are many different types of workers’ compensation benefits you could be entitled to if your claim is approved in Port Barre. Some of the more common types of workers’ compensation benefits awarded include:
- Medical expenses – The insurance company will be required to cover all your current and future healthcare and medical expenses related to your workplace injury.
- Disability benefits – Disability benefits are meant to replace a portion of your lost income. You can collect anywhere from 20% to 75% of your average weekly earnings, depending on the details of your case. Many work-related accidents pay out 2/3 of your average weekly wages in the form of disability benefits.
- Catastrophic injury benefits – When you suffer a catastrophic injury, you could be entitled to a one-time payment of $75,000.
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits – If your injuries are so debilitating you cannot continue in your current line of work, vocational rehabilitation benefits may allow you to find a new career.
- Death benefits – When a worker succumbs to an on-the-job injury, their family may be entitled to death benefits. These generally amount to a percentage of the decedent’s average weekly earnings.
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.
ClientWorkers’ Compensation Denials
Workers’ compensation claim denials are far more common than you might think. Remember, the insurance company is for-profit. Every time they pay out on a workers’ compensation claim, they lose money. However, they should not be your problem.
Some of the common reasons insurance companies give for workers’ compensation claim denials include:
- Having a pre-existing condition
- Self-infliction of injuries
- Failure to provide necessary medical documentation
- Failure to file your claim in time
- Failure to notify your employer of your injuries
- Making mistakes on your application
- Failure to provide evidence to support your case
- Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident
- Violating your company’s code of conduct
Some of the mentioned reasons are valid. Others are bad faith denials. It may not always be clear which type of workers’ compensation denial you have on your hands. For this reason, reach out to our Port Barre workers’ compensation attorney for help understanding the reasons for your workers’ comp insurance claim denial.
How to Handle a Workers’ Compensation Claim Denial in St. Landry Parish
In most workers’ compensation claim denials, your attorney may be able to get the insurance company to reverse their decision by simply providing them with additional evidence to support your case. Perhaps we need to provide the insurance company with additional medical records, identification, or accident reports.
If the insurance company continues to deny you the benefits you deserve, we may need to move forward with an appeal. We can give you more information about how the appeals process works when you contact our office to discuss the details of your case.
Reach Out to Our Port Barre Workers’ Compensation Attorney for Help
If you need help going up against the insurance company after your workers’ compensation claim is denied, the attorneys at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers are here to help.
Call for your no-cost, risk-free consultation with a team member to access the compensation and benefits that are rightfully yours.
