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Being seriously injured on the job can affect multiple aspects of your life. In addition to the physical pain and limitations presented by a work injury, getting hurt on the job can impact the ability to pay your bills, your family’s financial resources, and even your ability to earn a living.
No one plans to get hurt on the job. Yet it happens every day throughout Louisiana and in Lafayette. If you’re hurt on the job, you may feel like you’re stuck between a rock and hard place. You need a Lafayette workers’ compensation lawyer to help you protect your rights as an employee.
The workers’ compensation system is designed to aid workers who get hurt or fall ill while working within the scope of their employment. It is a type of insurance held by employers to compensate employees when they suffer work-related injuries. The Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Commission presides over benefits for injured workers.
Unlike personal injury cases, workers’ compensation is a no-fault system; neither you nor your employer are liable for the injuries you sustain. In spite of this, employers often try to shirk responsibility, and claims do get denied or underpaid.
By law, all employers in Louisiana are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage if they have at least one full-time or part-time employee. The majority of full-time, part-time, and/or seasonal employees are covered by workers’ compensation if they are injured in the workplace. But make no mistake, applying for benefits and getting approved is not an easy process.
If you are hurt on the job, unable to work due to the injury, and if your injury is covered by the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Act, your employer and its workers’ compensation insurer are obligated to pay for damages. In the event of death, Louisiana Workers Compensation death benefits are payable to your survivors. Before settling your Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Claim, you should be familiar with the various types of benefits owed and issues specific to workers’ compensation settlements.
Slips and Falls –Workers in factories and on construction sites often carry out their duties on ladders, roofs, and other elevated positions. Unfortunately, when employees fall from heights such as these, they can suffer severe injuries. Similarly, when a worker slips on water or oil, they may fall to the ground and injure their spine or head in the process. They could also fracture a bone.
Crush by Equipment –Crush accidents occur with a frightening degree of regularity on construction sites and factories throughout Louisiana. In many cases, employees are crushed beneath a heavy object. In others, they are crushed between that object and a solid wall. No matter how these accidents occur, they almost always result in severe injuries.
Fires and Explosions –Open flames and volatile materials are common sights in many workplaces. As such, it is no surprise that employees in Lafayette and surrounding areas sustain severe burns from fires and explosions with a frightening degree of regularity.
Malfunctioning Machinery –When heavy machinery works as intended, it can make the lives of construction workers and factory employees much easier. When they malfunction, they can cause workers to fracture bones, lose limbs, and sustain severe spinal cord injuries.
Strenuous Activities –As part of their daily duties, many employees must carry out strenuous activities such as carrying heavy objects or bending for long periods of time. These activities have the potential to cause serious, life-altering injuries.
Auto Accidents –For employees who regularly drive a car, bus, or truck as part of their daily duties, auto accidents are a very real hazard. Soft tissue injuries, fractured bones, and traumatic brain injuries are all potential outcomes of these traffic collisions.
Workplace accidents in the state of Louisiana can lead to a wide range of injuries. Some can be minor, but some are so severe they can leave employees with life-changing disabilities.
Some of the most common workers compensation claims in Lafayette include those from:
There are a number of important steps you need to take if you get hurt on the job. Doing the following is essential not only for your safety and well-being but also to protect your legal rights:
1.
Whether you just require first aid or you need to go to the hospital, the first step is getting treatment for an injury or illness related to your work. Unless it’s a minor bruise or scrape, you should not just try to “walk it off.” Ignoring the problem only makes things worse.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment is essential for any type of physical trauma, a repetitive stress injury, or symptoms consistent with an occupational disease or illness. Going to the doctor or emergency room ASAP is the best way to minimize the time you miss from work, as well as reduce the risk of potential complications from an injury or illness.
Finally, you need thorough medical documentation of the work injury or illness to get the compensation you deserve. This is true whether you qualify for workers’ compensation and/or have to file a third-party claim or claims.
2.
Ideally, you will be able to tell a manager, supervisor, or other person in authority that you have been hurt before leaving work to get treatment. Alternatively, you can have a coworker do this for you if you are incapacitated or need to be taken to the hospital right away.
Verbally notifying your employer is a good start. However, it isn’t the only thing you need to do to ensure that the accident is properly reported.
3.
You will need to see a doctor in the workers’ compensation health care network. When you go to the doctor’s office or the hospital, you should inform the staff and make a note on any intake forms that the injury, illness, or other complaint is related to your employment. You will also need to provide the following:
4.
You need to report an injury or illness to your employer no more than 30 days after the fact to maintain your right to workers’ compensation benefits.
It is important to be honest but factual when reporting a work-related injury or illness. Do not speculate or say anything to suggest that you may have been at fault. Any inaccuracies or embellishments may be used against you by your employer and/or the insurance company.
5.
Being injured at work creates a number of hardships. The physical pain of an injury is often exacerbated by the uncertainty of how your ability to work and support your family will be affected.
You don’t have to go it alone. Lafayette workers’ compensation lawyer Craig A. Davis will protect your rights and provide you with guidance and support at every stage of your claim.
For over 30 years, Craig and his team have helped thousands of personal injury victims pursue compensation for damages owed to them. We are dedicated to providing competent, compassionate legal support and giving you and your family the personalized attention you deserve. Our Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers are committed to fighting for your rights and helping you recover maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. Give us a call today. Our conversations are always free, and you don’t pay anything unless we win your case!
At Craig A. Davis, APLC, we serve the following areas. Lafayette, Youngsville, Broussard, Scott, New Iberia, Abbeville, Breaux Bridge, Carencro, Duson, Crowley, Rayne, Maurice, Erath, Jennings, Lake Charles, Grand Coteau, Houma, Delcambre, Iota, Jeanerette, Meaux, Sulphur, Opelousas.
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