Work-related accidents can cause severe disabilities or permanent injuries that can significantly impact all aspects of your life. If you have sustained an illness or injuries at work, whether minor or major, it can lead to lasting pain, lost income, and high medical bills. This can have a major impact on your emotional and financial well-being. Therefore, understanding your rights is important to protect yourself and your loved ones.
In Hammond, Louisiana, all employers are obligated to provide workers’ compensation to all their employees. While you might be aware of this, most workers don’t know that insurance companies or employers may try to downplay the injuries and reduce the compensation.
Here, our highly qualified workers’ compensation lawyers in Hammond can help. We can help you navigate the complicated workers' compensation program and ensure you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve for your injuries and sufferings.
Ways to Protect Your Rights in Case of Workplace Injuries or Illness
If you are injured at work or sustain an illness due to the work environment or accident, you must do your part to protect your rights. Here are a few things you can do:
- Report the illness or injury to your manager or supervisor as soon as you can
- Seek medical treatment immediately and go to all the follow-up appointments as instructed by the doctor
- Follow all instructions of the physician and take the prescribed medication for your treatment
- Provide accurate and complete medical history and other relevant information to the doctor
- Keep track of the medical expenses, testing, and medications, along with the miles you travel for your treatments and follow-ups.
Consulting an experienced Hammond workers' compensation lawyer will help you determine how to navigate the workers' comp and protect your rights.
Types of Benefits Covered in Workers’ Compensation in Hammond
If you are injured in a work-related accident, our workers’ compensation lawyers in Hammond can help you recover the following compensation based on the severity of the injuries:
Income
Loss of income or loss of earning ability is covered under workers' compensation insurance. You may be entitled to one of the following based on your situation and doctor's diagnosis:
- Temporary Total Disability: You will receive compensation for the entire time you get treatment for your injuries or illnesses. The doctor has to provide a full report and certification that you can't perform your duties without the relevant treatment.
- Temporary Partial Disability: You will receive compensation for the difference in pay, if any, in case the injuries or illnesses prevent you from performing certain work tasks. The doctor has to provide a full report and certification that you can't perform specific duties until full recovery.
- Permanent Partial Disability: You will receive compensation for permanent disability caused by injuries or illnesses that permanently prevent you from performing certain tasks. The doctor has to provide a full report and certification that you can't perform specific duties.
- Total and Permanent Disability: You will receive compensation for permanent disability caused by injuries or illnesses that completely prevent you from ever performing your work.
Medical Benefits
Employers are responsible for offering all employees the appropriate medical treatment for any injuries sustained while on the job. Under the workers' compensation in Hammond, Louisiana, you have the right to select your choice of doctor, but the employer can also recommend a physician.
Vocational Retraining
Depending on your injuries and disabilities caused by the workplace accident, you might have to get additional training to perform your duties. Therefore, you may have to undergo job retraining to learn how to perform your job well with your disabilities.
Our experienced workers' compensation lawyers in Hammond will ensure you only return to work once your doctor gives you the go-ahead. We will also ensure you get the relevant training if and as needed.
Get the Compensation you deserve with the help of our Hammond Workers Compensation Lawyers
Getting injured at work can be highly stressful for any worker, given the high treatment cost and inability to work while getting treated. This can put financial pressure on the injured worker while they also try to manage the complex workers’ compensation. If you get injured at work, you don’t have to go through the complicated legalities of workers’ comp alone.
At Wanko Law Firm, our skilled workers' compensation lawyers in Houma have extensive experience dealing with workers' comp cases. We can fight for your right and recover sufficient compensation to help you recover from your injuries without financial suffering.
Give us a call at (985) 202-9907 to book an appointment.
