Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Baton Rouge

If you’ve been hurt at work, you understand just how devastating those injuries can be. Workplace accidents can result in major injuries and disability, both of which can have a major impact on the victim’s life.

Any work-related injury can have long-term financial and emotional effects on victims and their families. Even the most minor injuries sustained on the job can result in expensive medical bills, lost work, lost income, and chronic pain. If you’re dealing with the fallout from a workplace injury, call the Baton Rouge workers’ compensation lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for help.

Common Types of Workers’ Compensation Claims in Baton Rouge

Because the Baton Rouge area depends heavily on industrial workers to drive the economy, many workers’ comp claims in East Baton Rouge Parish and the surrounding areas are from industrial work. Plant workers, chemical workers, and refinery workers are more likely than workers in most other industries to become injured on the job due to the dangerous nature of their work.

Even though these jobs come with known safety risks, the workers’ compensation system is in place for those and other workers whose income will be disrupted when they’re injured on the job. In Baton Rouge, the following injuries are, sadly, fairly common:

• Slips, trips, and falls
• Joint sprains and strains
• Burns
• Injuries caused by collisions with large or heavy objects
• Head injuries including traumatic brain injuries
• Eye injuries
• Hearing loss
• Crushing or compression injuries
• Broken bones
• Catastrophic injuries including amputations
• Repetitive motion injury
• Neck and spinal cord injuries that could lead to paralysis
• Assaults and other violent acts
• Accidents while driving
• Heavy equipment malfunction
• Over-exertion caused by lifting, pushing, carrying, or pulling too much

What Workers’ Comp Coverage Am I Eligible For?

In Louisiana, the law allows for four types of workers’ compensation, depending on the severity of your injuries:

• Temporary total disability coverage is for injuries that leave you completely unable to work during your recovery. You could be eligible for these if you receive special certification from your doctor attesting to the fact that you are unable to work.
• Temporary partial disability coverage applies to injuries that inhibit you from performing certain job tasks, such as lifting heavy objects, operating some machinery, and the like. If you’re still able to work at a reduced capacity, TPD can help cover the discrepancy in your pay.
• Permanent partial disability benefits can help cover costs related to the permanent effects of your accident. In addition, depending on your situation you could be eligible for additional compensation above the physical impairment caused by your work-related injury.
• Total and permanent disability benefits can help cover costs associated with the permanent effects of your injury, including assistive equipment, surgeries, therapy, and other costs. If you’ve suffered an injury that results in a disability preventing you from working again, you could qualify for TBD coverage.

Medical Benefits After an On-the-job Injury

Employers are required to provide their employees with medical care for any injuries employees suffer while on the job. Generally speaking, if you’re injured you’ll be able to choose your own doctor or specialist to diagnose and treat your injuries. Your employer also has the right to choose a different doctor for a second opinion.

When you need medical care after a job injury, you don’t have time to waste waiting for insurance, your employer, and all the other parties involved to get you the compensation you need to survive.

An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Baton Rouge can help you get the medical care you need by communicating with your insurance provider, employer, and doctor to ensure you’re receiving proper treatment. The personal injury lawyers with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys also ensure that approvals for the procedures you need are approved in a timely manner.

Vocational Retraining After a Work Injury

If you’re unwilling to perform your usual work duties as a result of your work-related injury, you could be eligible for job re-training and assistance. This assistance can help you find other employment opportunities within the parameters of your capabilities and limitations as specified by your doctor.

Additionally, a skilled Baton Rouge workers’ compensation lawyer can help ensure that you’re not sent back into the workplace before you receive a medical release to return to work and are able to fully recover from your injuries.

A Baton Rouge Workers’ Comp Lawyer Can Help You Get the Compensation You Deserve

After you’ve been injured at work, no matter how minor that injury may seem, notify your employer immediately. You’ll have a limited amount of time after the injury to make a claim, so file a report and see a medical professional as soon as possible. Louisiana law stipulates a 1-year statute of limitations for most workers’ compensation claims.

If you’ve been injured while on the job, the team at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys is here for you. Call our Baton Rouge law firm today at 225.888.8888 for a free legal consultation with one of our experienced workers’ comp attorneys.