Every employee in America has certain rights. Whether it’s a break in the middle of the day, the right to complete a job safely, or the right to be compensated fairly for the work they do, there are some things that companies shouldn’t be able to mess with. Workers’ Compensation should always be one of these rights. Workers’ Comp has helped millions of employees all over the nation stay afloat after they’ve been hurt on the job. No matter what caused the injury, a worker should always be able to have time to physically and mentally recover from their accident while not having to worry about money. If a business is liable for the injury that takes place, then the insurance companies should payout accordingly.
It’s important to know where you stand if you’re injured on the job in the great state of Louisiana. Basically, all worker’s comp claims are overseen by the Office Workers’ Compensation Administration (OWCA), and they handle all claims accordingly. They will help determine what happens to your case after you file, and they will make sure all the proper procedures are followed so you can receive the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering. The law states that almost every employer must have programs in place where they pay out workers’ comp payments to their workers who qualify under the guidelines. Typically, your employer will get coverage for this sort of thing by purchasing a policy from an insurance company, or they will pay out directly to employees if the business is self-sustaining without any association to an insurance company, although this is less common for most employers.
The important thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to prove that your employer was at fault for the accident or defective product that resulted in your injury. This comes in very handy as companies typically don’t like being attacked from within with court documents. Luckily, the state of Louisiana has what is known as a no-fault compensation program in place where employees become eligible simply if their injuries took place while they were engaging in work-related activities.
As with every type of activity in life, there are countless ways you could get injured on the job. Whether it keeps you from working for a prolonged period of time or whether it only sees you getting sent home for the day will determine just part of your payout. When you’re on the job, no matter what type of job it is, you’re likely always at risk of suffering a slip and fall accident, a cut, exposure to chemicals, product failure, structural failure, or any number of other hazards. When these occur, your injuries could vary. A slip and fall accident, for example, can cause everything from bruises to broken bones to traumatic brain injuries. Depending on the magnitude of your injuries, your claim will reflect accordingly.
When you file a claim, it will ostensibly work to make up for the damages done to your body and mind. The worse the injury, the more money would need to be paid out to cover the pain and suffering that the victim receives. Typically, these benefits may include, but are not limited to:
These types of claims are meant to protect the worker. In that way, they’re a godsend. Many times, when you sign on to accept a job with an employer, there are clauses in your contract that prevent you from being able to file a more serious personal injury suit against them. By filing a workers’ comp claim, you bypass this complicated legal step altogether and end up with a just and rightful amount of compensation. At the same time, if a fellow coworker caused your injury, you may be able to bring a suit against them, but that’s a conversation for another day.
When you’re injured, it’s important to report it to the proper authorities right away. To be eligible for full benefits, you need to tell your employer about the accident within a 30-day period of finding out about the issue at hand. It’s important to start by documenting all the circumstances surrounding your injury as well. As soon as it occurs, you should already be thinking about important aspects like the time and date, when you were hurt, how you were hurt, what part of you was hurt, and any other mitigating factors. These factors will become important later when they will need to be submitted in writing to the proper authorities. The more you document about your case, the better chance you’ll have of getting properly compensated.
Finding a job you love can be as exciting as it is life changing. Getting injured on the job can be life changing for all the wrong reasons. If employers want to properly run a business, they need to be taking care of the people who work in that business first and foremost. Above all else, you should feel safe in the workplace. When that sense of safety is compromised and you find yourself in the confusing process of filing for workers’ comp, you can quickly feel alone. Luckily, Blase Inzina Injury Attorneys are here to help.
Together, we will fight to get you the right amount of compensation based on the severity and circumstances surrounding your injury. For all you do in your workplace, your employer owes it to you to make sure you’re taken care of when you’re injured in the process of making them money. Without the right attorney, you can find yourself settling for an amount of money that just isn’t going to cover all your grievances between lost work, pain, medical bills, and mental anguish. With Blase Inzina, we will work to find you the justice you deserve after a workplace injury. To find out more about how we can help you file your workers’ comp claims, give us a call today at (337) 347-7177 to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.