You can expect your workers’ compensation claim to cover:
- Medical costs for your injury or illness
- Percentage of income you lost caused by a covered injury or illness
How much you receive from your workers’ compensation claim may depend on the amount of medical costs you have because of your injury or illness. The Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) notes that you may receive roughly two-thirds of your lost income based on your average weekly earnings before being injured or becoming ill, though this figure may be different under certain circumstances.
Every Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Unique
You must consider the specific details of your injury or illness when estimating how much you can expect from your workers’ compensation claim. The specific category that your injury falls into could affect the types of benefits you are entitled to collect and how long you may receive them.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) explains that different categories of injuries include:
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)
- Temporary Permanent Disability (TPD)
If your disability is partial, you may be able to work at a diminished capacity while you are injured or sick. If it is a total disability, you may not be able to work until you have recovered from your injury or illness. If you have a temporary disability, you may be expected to recover with time, while a permanent disability may not be expected to improve.
The Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) §23:1221 describes the different amounts and duration of benefits you may receive based on your assigned injury category. Several nuances might affect your eligibility for benefits, so you may want to speak with a law firm representative and have them explain which statutes might be relevant to your workers’ compensation claim.
A Lawyer Can Work on Your Claim for You
Employees injured or made sick because of conditions in the workplace may be entitled to receive compensation. A lawyer may pursue compensation on your behalf and handle the workers’ compensation process.
Some of the duties your lawyer may perform might include:
- Determining which classification applies to your injury or illness
- Determining how much benefits you might be entitled to receive and for how long
- Gathering any evidence that supports your claim
- Documenting accounts from people who witnessed your injury take place or the conditions that caused you to become ill
- Consulting industry experts who can support your claim
- Handling all communications related to your claim
- Negotiating a settlement if necessary
- Handling any processes that stem from your claim, such as mediation or the appeals process
Your lawyer may aim to secure partial income and reimbursement for medical expenses, which you might be entitled to as an employee covered by workers’ compensation.
You Should Not Have to Bear the Cost of Being Injured on the Job
Whether your disability is an injury or illness, the cost of being unable to work can be great. You might lose income because of having to take time off from work. However, your disability might bring on other losses beyond lost income.
Some other consequences of a work-related injury or illness may include:
- Chronic pain
- Permanent disfigurement
- Mental health problems
- Permanent changes in your cognitive or physical abilities
- Changes in the specific types of jobs you can hold or the number of hours you can work
- Medical costs, which may be the result of diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating your injury or illness
The types of losses you suffered may affect what types of compensation your lawyer may apply for. For example, you could be entitled to Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB) if you are able to work but cannot earn as much as you once did because of the effects of a work-related injury or illness.
Speaking with a team member from a law firm that works on workers’ compensation claims may give you a better understanding of the specific types of compensation you may be entitled to receive.
Let Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Help You Fight for Workers’ Compensation
If you or a loved one were injured or made sick because of circumstances related to your work, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation. A workers’ compensation lawyer can manage your claim so that you can focus on your recovery.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation.