Fighting for the Rights of Injured Workers
Sustaining an injury that results in your inability to work, whether temporarily or permanently, can be devastating physically, emotionally, and financially. Individuals who are injured on the job, however, should know that they may be entitled to financial and medical benefits under workers’ compensation law. At Hammond Law Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana, we represent injured workers in their efforts to obtain the full benefits that they deserve. We are here to help employees and their families overcome the financial burdens of on-the-job accidents, injuries, and work-related illnesses. If your workers’ compensation claim has been denied, the personal injury lawyers of the Hammond Law Firm in New Orleans have the knowledge and expertise to get you the benefits that you are entitled to, regardless of the nature of your on-the-job injury. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a benefits system that is in place to help individuals who are injured on the job from an accident or occupational injury or disease recover their medical bills, lost income and rehabilitation during the time that they are injured and unable to work in whole or part. In Louisiana, employers are required to provide workers’ compensation so that they can compensate their employees in the event of a work-related injury. Often they have workers compensation insurance and a claim is handled by an administrator or adjuster. Depending on the specific circumstances, injured employees may be able to receive compensation for medical care, a percentage of lost wages, and rehabilitation services, as well as benefits payable to survivors in the event of an employee’s death. Some of the conditions that may warrant workers’ compensation benefits include injuries caused by:
- Car accidents while using the vehicle for work
- Fault of another company or person who is not your employer or co-employee but while you are in the course and scope of employment
- Strains, sprains or injuries from lifting heavy equipment or objects
- Products liability and defective products, such as defective supplies, cleaners, chemicals, equipment, products or machinery
- Co-worker fault or accidents
- Illnesses, disease or injury that is an immediate result of the working environment, including repetitive stress diseases or repetitive stress injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Slips, trips and fall such as slipping on a wet surface
- Electrical Accidents
- Fire
In the event that you have suffered a permanent injury or your workers’ compensation claim has been denied, it is in your best interest to seek representation from a professional, experienced lawyer who can argue for your rights and help you obtain any benefits necessary so that you may provide for yourself and your family. It is best to contact an attorney immediately after an accident as what you at the beginning of your claim can have a big impact on your case. You will need to select a doctor and will not be allowed to change once you have, in most cases. You will need to give a statement to the insurance company and it is best to have spoken with an attorney before you do so you understand what they are asking. You need to report the accident and also preserve evidence and witness’s information and statements.
You can contact Hammond Law Firm in New Orleans for a free consultation after an accident at (504) 586-3535.
Claiming Your Benefits
When you have suffered a work-related injury, the last thing that you want to do is spend your time navigating through complicated law processes without the help of a professional In Louisiana, in most cases, you have one year from the date of accident to file a disputed claim for compensation with the Office of Workers Compensation. However, your case may not actually be a workers’ compensation case and you may have other rights that need to be protected by filing a lawsuit within one year of your accident. An attorney needs to review the facts of your case well before this one year deadline to file a lawsuit and investigate it to make sure they have all the information they need to file suit. Don’t wait until the last minute to contact an attorney or it may be hard to have one take the case right before the deadline. Filing your claim early will give you and your lawyer ample time to gather any necessary documents and information. Once your claim or lawsuit has been filed, the case will go before a judge or jury, who will render a decision. Mr. Hammond can represent you to be sure that all of your rights are protected, and that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact Hammond Law Firm Today
We understand that suffering an injury is hard enough without having to worry about providing for yourself and your family, and we believe that you shouldn’t have to.
Call the attorneys at Hammond Law Firm in New Orleans at (504) 586-3535 or contact us online to get started on your claim today
