Were you injured on the job in New Orleans, LA? Most employers in the state are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which can help you recover costs for your medical care, lost wages, and other injury-related consequences. Our experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyers can offer the experience and resources you’ll need to force your employer’s insurance company to take your claim for benefits seriously.
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is a trusted advocate for injured workers backed by over 50 years of combined experience handling complex legal claims. Clients benefit from passionate, individualized representation and our law firm’s depth of resources, which sets the stage for life-changing results. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for clients just like you.
Contact our law office in New Orleans to schedule a free consultation at (504) 294-3804. Members of our team are standing by to help today.
How Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Make the Most of Your Claim For Workers’ Compensation Benefits in New Orleans, LA
Even though you may have the right to pursue benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy, the path to a successful financial recovery can be challenging. Your employer won’t want to see their premiums increase, and their insurance carrier will go to great lengths to limit how much – if anything – you’re awarded for your workplace injury in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Hiring an experienced New Orleans personal injury lawyer to handle your workers’ compensation claim will be important.
Choosing Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers means working with litigators who are trusted by The National Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers, the Louisiana Association for Justice, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and other respected legal organizations.
Our New Orleans workplace accident attorneys are prepared to handle all aspects of your benefits claim so that you can take the time you need to improve.
We will:
- Investigate the underlying details of your workplace injury or illness
- Gather evidence and documents needed to support a winning claim for benefits
- Obtain an independent medical evaluation, if necessary, to demonstrate the extent of your workplace injuries
- Enlist expert witnesses to consult with our legal team throughout the workers’ compensation claims process
- Determine if you may also have the right to seek damages in a related personal injury lawsuit
- Represent you during any claim-related hearings, negotiations, and/or on appeal
You shouldn’t settle for less in workers’ compensation benefits than you deserve. Trust our top-rated personal injury law firm in New Orleans to help you maximize your recovery. We represent workers on a contingency fee basis. Pay nothing until we’ve recovered workers’ compensation benefits for you.
There’s a limited time to act, so don’t hesitate to contact our law office in New Orleans for help. Your first consultation is free.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system through which employees can qualify for monetary benefits when they’re injured on the job or are diagnosed with an occupational illness or disease.
Ultimately, it offers workers an accelerated path to benefits that’s outside the traditional civil justice system.
How Do I Know If I Qualify For Workers’ Compensation Benefits in New Orleans?
Not everyone who gets hurt at work in the city of New Orleans will qualify for workers’ compensation.
To qualify, you must satisfy each of the following requirements:
- You work for an employer who is legally required to carry workers’ compensation (in Louisiana, most companies with at least one employee must opt into the system).
- You are classified as an employee and not an independent contractor.
- You suffer an injury or develop an illness in the normal course of your employment.
What does the “normal course of your employment” mean? You were injured while carrying out tasks and responsibilities expected of you in your role at your company. There’s no requirement that you’re injured on your employer’s premises.
For instance, you could qualify for workers’ compensation if you got hurt because of a work-related car accident or truck accident. However, you wouldn’t qualify if the accident happened on personal time (e.g., commuting) rather than company time (e.g., transporting goods for your employer).
Can I Get Workers’ Compensation if I’m Partly to Blame For My Workplace Accident?
Yes. Workers’ compensation is a private insurance system, so Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence law won’t affect your ability to recover compensation.
In fact, you can receive benefits even if your own negligence is the sole cause of your workplace injury.
However, keep in mind that the state’s pure comparative fault law can affect your right to get compensation if you seek damages in a related civil personal injury claim.
Can I Sue My Employer?
Typically, no. Workers’ compensation’s no-fault structure applies to both you and your employer. It helps you get compensation regardless of fault and protects your employer from litigation when employees get hurt on the job.
However, while you generally cannot sue your employer, you may be able to bring a legal claim against third parties who are responsible for your injury. For example, if your injury was caused by a defective product or negligence by someone other than your employer, you could potentially file a personal injury lawsuit against them.
Our experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyers can help you identify if a third-party claim is possible, allowing you to seek additional compensation beyond your workers’ comp benefits.
Overview of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in New Orleans
Workers’ compensation offers a great opportunity to receive economic benefits when you sustain job-related injuries in New Orleans.
These can include money for:
Medical Expenses
Costs and expenses related to reasonable and necessary medical care for the treatment of your work-related injury, including:
- Hospitalization
- Medication
- Surgery
- Medical devices
- Medical equipment
- Lab work and diagnostic tests
- Follow-up care
- Specialist care
- Chiropractic care
There’s one requirement for coverage – you must obtain medical care from a plan-approved medical professional. If you seek treatment from your doctor or utilize alternative therapies, your employer won’t cover costs.
Temporary Total Disability
Temporary Total Disability (TTD) can offset a sudden loss of income when your work-related injuries prevent you from going back to work in any capacity for a limited time after you get hurt on the job. They’re typically the equivalent of two-thirds of your average weekly wage, as calculated using your pre-injury income.
Supplemental Earnings Benefits
If you can return to work but aren’t able to earn your pre-injury wages, supplemental earnings benefits can offset the difference. Benefits paid equal two-thirds of the difference of your pre-and-post-injury wages.
Permanent Partial Disability
If you’ve suffered the loss of a limb, the loss of the use of a part of your body, or another permanent impairment, you may qualify for Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits. PPD benefits usually equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage and are paid on a schedule that’s based on your impairment.
For instance, PPD benefits for the loss of a thumb are paid for 50 weeks, while you can receive benefits for 175 weeks if you’ve lost a leg because of your workplace injury.
Permanent Total Disability
Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits are available when your work-related injury or illness prevents you from working in any capacity, whether or not it’s related to the job you held when you got hurt.
Wage benefits are subject to statutory caps under Louisiana state law. So, there are times when you’ll receive less than two-thirds of your average weekly wage. For injuries sustained between September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025, the state uses a maximum average weekly wage of $1127.21 for income benefit calculations. As a result, the maximum weekly benefit for most disability benefits is $845, while the minimum benefit is $225.
How Long Will I Have to Seek Workers’ Compensation Benefits After I Get Hurt On the Job in Louisiana?
You must file your claim for workers’ compensation benefits within one year of getting hurt on the job in New Orleans, Louisiana. This is assuming that you notified your employer of your injury within 30 days of getting hurt, as required by state law to preserve your right to seek benefits.
If you miss the filing deadline, you’ll forfeit the right to pursue monetary benefits from your employer’s insurance company.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced New Orleans Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Call Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers if you’ve recently suffered injuries while working in New Orleans, Louisiana. You may have the right to receive workers’ compensation benefits, but you’ll undoubtedly face a challenge as you fight for maximum compensation.
Our New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyers can help you assert your rights and force your employer’s insurance company to do the right thing.
We have over 50 years of combined experience and a multi-million dollar track record of success. We’ve helped clients win tens of millions in damages, and now we’re ready to help you get the life-changing compensation you need after an accident at work, too.
We provide a free case evaluation, so contact our New Orleans, LA, law office to set a time to speak with our top-rated team today.
