Workers' Compensation is a legal system set up to help if you are injured at work or develop a health problem as a result of your job. All employers are required to provide worker’s compensation, and all employees should be covered by worker’s compensation insurance.

What Is Workers' Comp?
There is often confusion between Personal Injury law and Workers' Compensation law. Unlike Personal Injury law in Louisiana, if you are injured on the job, you are entitled to compensation benefits, regardless of who is at fault. Claims may include back injury, burn injury, falls, hazardous inhalation, cuts and injury to all parts of the body, as well as repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.If you are injured, report the injury to the employer, in writing, immediately.

What do I do if I’m hurt on the job?
Report the accident and call a lawyer.

In Louisiana, you must report your accident to your employer within 30 days of the accident.  Otherwise, you may lose your right to claim worker’s compensation benefits.  Because there are a few exceptions to the thirty day limit, you should talk to a lawyer even if more than thirty days have passed from the date of your accident.

A Louisiana worker’s compensation lawyer will be able to advise you of the best course of action specific to your case.

Know Your Rights.
If you have been injured at work, you deserve to be compensated fairly. Your employer or their insurance company is required to pay for:

• Medical treatment and prescription medication;
• Travel expenses going to and from the doctor and pharmacy;
• Weekly wages during the time you are unable to work; and
• Medical attention from a specialist such as an orthopedist, surgeon, psychiatrist or neurologist if necessary.

The law also prohibits employers from taking certain actions related to worker’s compensation claims, such as:

• Fire you for filing a workers' compensation claim;
• Force you to go back to work if your doctors say that you can’t work;
• Refuse to pay for recommended medical treatment or prescription medicines; and
• Force you to only see the company doctor.

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