The four types of workers’ compensation benefits are:
- Benefits for Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
- Benefits for Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
- Benefits for Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
- Supplemental earnings benefits (SEB)
You may also be able to receive benefits for a Temporary Partial Disability (TPD). Your lawyer may determine which types of benefits are most appropriate for you, based on the circumstances of your injury or illness.
You Receive Benefits Based on the Classification of Your Injury or Illness
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides more details on how different on-the-job injuries may be classified. These classifications determine the overall effects of your injury or illness:
- Permanent Total Disability: Your injury will cause significant impairments even after you are considered to have reached maximum recovery.
- Temporary Total Disability: You will be completely unable to perform your job, but are expected to recover and be able to return to work in some capacity.
- Permanent Partial Disability: You may be able to work but at a diminished capacity, and you may have these limitations for the foreseeable future.
- Temporary Partial Disability: You may be able to work with limitations, and you may be expected to recover from your physical limitations with time.
The classification assigned to your injury might affect the types of benefits you are eligible to collect, including how long you may receive those benefits. Per the Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) §23:1202, there may be maximum and minimum coverage amounts for each injury classification. Your lawyer may be aware of these minimums, which could be subject to change over time.
Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB)
Another type of workers’ compensation benefits is Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB). These benefits may be available to you or your loved one if you are able to return to work after suffering an injury or illness, but lasting effects of your ailment prevent you from earning at least 90 percent of your pre-injury or pre-illness wages.
According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC), you may be able to collect two-thirds of the difference between your post-injury or post-illness earnings and the earnings that you earned before becoming disabled. This benefit is available for a maximum period of 520 weeks.
A lawyer who handles workers’ compensation claims may be familiar with the four types of workers’ compensation benefits and may assist you with your claim to pursue the appropriate workers’ compensation benefits.
For a free legal consultation, call (337) 777-7777
How a Lawyer May Assist You with Your Claim
Hiring a lawyer to help you with your claim may be helpful in several respects, as this may:
- Give you access to their experience and knowledge related to workers’ compensation claims
- Allow you to focus your attention on your own recovery
- Help you to avoid additional stress that may come from you being overly involved with your workers’ compensation claim
- Protect your rights from parties who might try to violate them, such as your employer or their insurance company
A lawyer can handle the entirety of your claim and may assist you in other respects. Your lawyer may handle the following on your behalf:
- Ensuring your claim gets filed
- Gathering evidence of your accident
- Recording testimony from witnesses who saw the cause of your accident
- Documenting your injuries and your timetable for recovery
- Filing a Form LWC-WC-1008 if your claim is contested in some way
- Handling the mediation process if necessary
- Representing you in front of a judge
- Filing an appeal if necessary
Your lawyer may be familiar with tactics used by insurance companies and employers who do not wish to pay injured or ill employees the workers’ compensation they may be entitled to receive. Your lawyer may use prior experience and relevant knowledge to respond to any bad faith practices.
You May Be Owed Compensation
As explained by the LWC, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation, which can be used to cover the costs of your medical care. You may collect payment for 100 percent of such care.
In addition, you may be owed two-thirds of the income that you are not able to collect because of a temporary or permanent injury or illness. This figure may vary on a case-by-case basis. Still, your lawyer will attempt to recover the amount of coverage you should be entitled to collect and nothing less.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Can Help You with Your Claim
The team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers wants to help you fight for the type of workers’ compensation benefits that fit your specific circumstances. We can represent you throughout the life of your claim. Call our team today at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation.
Call or text (337) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
