The Most Common Workplace Injuries Covered by Workers’ Compensation

Get the Help You Deserve After a Workplace Injury in New Orleans

Workplace injuries can be life-disrupting, leaving you with physical limitations and financial burdens. If you’ve been injured on the job in New Orleans, a workers’ compensation attorney in New Orleans can be a valuable asset in securing the benefits you deserve.

Quick Summary:

• Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance providing benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. It operates as a no-fault system, ensuring employees receive benefits without proving employer negligence.
• Injured workers can receive various benefits, including medical coverage, wage replacement, disability benefits, and vocational rehabilitation. Families may also receive death benefits if a worker dies due to a work-related injury.
• Workers’ compensation covers a range of injuries such as slips, trips, and falls, overexertion injuries, repetitive strain injuries, falling objects, work-related vehicle accidents, and exposure to toxins.

What is Workers’ Compensation? 

Workers’ compensation, often shortened to “workers’ comp,” is a form of insurance mandated by most states in the U.S. In Louisiana, workers’ compensation is handled by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. It provides financial and medical benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. It operates as a no-fault system, meaning an employee doesn’t need to prove their employer’s negligence to receive benefits.

In exchange for mandatory employer participation in workers’ compensation insurance, employees generally give up their right to sue their employer for negligence related to workplace injury. That is known as the compensation bargain.

This system aims to streamline the claims process and ensure timely medical care and income replacement for injured workers, while also protecting employers from potentially crippling lawsuits.

In Louisiana, we help people understand the often confusing process of filing a workers’ compensation claim. Examples of workers’ compensation cases include:

• Slipping and falling at work
• Getting hurt by machinery
• Illnesses caused by working with dangerous materials
• Repetitive injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome
• Injuries from car accidents during work
• Mental stress or trauma from work

What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?

In Louisiana, the Office of Workers’ Compensation manages workers’ comp claims, but they don’t pay the benefits. Instead, your employer or your workers’ comp insurance provider is responsible for paying you.

If you get hurt at work, workers’ comp usually covers your medical bills related to the injury and your lost wages until you can go back to work. It also covers rehab services. If you pass away, it gives certain benefits to your family members.

Types of Benefits Provided by Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation offers various benefits to injured workers, acting as a safety net after a work-related injury or illness. Here’s a breakdown of the key types of coverage:

• Medical Benefits: These cover the costs of treating your work-related injury or illness. That can include:
  • Doctor visits and consultations
  • Hospital stays and surgeries
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Medications and medical equipment
  • Ambulance services
  • In most cases, workers’ compensation will cover all necessary and reasonable medical expenses related to your work injury.
• Wage Replacement Benefits: If your injury prevents you from working full-time, you may be entitled to a part of your lost wages. That is calculated as a percentage (around two-thirds) of your average weekly wage. The exact amount and duration of these benefits will depend on the severity of your injury and your recovery timeline.
• Mileage Reimbursement: If an employee gets hurt at work, they should get paid back for the miles they travel to see a doctor or go to therapy appointments necessary for their injury.
• Disability Benefits: In some cases, a workplace injury can leave you with lasting impairments that affect your ability to work. Workers’ compensation may offer disability benefits to compensate for this loss of earning capacity. These benefits can be:
  • Temporary Total Disability: If you cannot work at all for a temporary period due to your injury, you may receive temporary total disability benefits.
  • Temporary Partial Disability: If your injury allows you to return to work with limitations (e.g., reduced hours or lighter duties), you may be eligible for temporary partial disability benefits to compensate for the difference in your wages.
  • Permanent Partial Disability: Workers with permanent impairments that affect their earning capacity may be entitled to ongoing permanent partial disability benefits.
  • Permanent Total Disability: In the tragic event that a work injury leaves you permanently unable to work in any capacity, you may be eligible for permanent total disability benefits.
• Supplemental Earnings Benefits: In Louisiana, if you can’t earn as much money as you used to because of a work injury, you can get extra money to help cover the difference. These are the supplemental earnings benefits. You can receive these benefits if you can’t earn at least 90% of what you used to make before the injury. The amount you receive is two-thirds of the difference between your old earnings and your new earnings, up to a certain limit.
• Vocational Rehabilitation: Workers’ compensation may offer vocational rehabilitation services to help you return to work. That might also help you find a new job if your injury prevents you from performing your previous duties. Vocational rehabilitation includes retraining programs, job placement assistance, or modifications to your workplace to accommodate your limitations.
• Death Benefits: If a work-related injury tragically results in the death of a worker, surviving family members may be entitled to death benefits. These benefits can help cover funeral expenses. Provide ongoing financial support for dependents who rely on the deceased worker’s income.