What Injuries Will Louisiana Workers' Compensation Insurance Cover?

By law, most Louisiana employers who have even one employee must carry workers’ compensation insurance. The coverage will pay for medical benefits and income support when someone gets hurt on the job. The law makes liberal accommodations for the types of injuries and disabilities that might qualify for a workers’ compensation claim. Depending on the type of injury, however, the amount of compensation that someone might receive could vary.

workers claim form

Common Workers’ Compensation Injuries

An employee who gets hurt or sick while on the job might qualify for workers’ compensation. This is because when such injuries occur, the employee might have to miss work as they recover. Workers’ comp will help the injured person receive support that they would otherwise receive from their pay. Injuries that might qualify someone for workers’ compensation in Louisiana include:

Physical injuries that prevent someone from working for more than seven calendar days.

Illnesses caused by long-term exposure to hazardous conditions.
Conditions caused by repetitive motion.
Mental injuries, if those issues arise as a result of a workplace accident.
Death of the employee. In this case, workers’ compensation pays a benefit to the surviving loved ones.
Long-term and short-term disabilities sustained as a result of the injuries.

The injured employee will have to verify that this injury occurred as a result of their working duties. They will work with the employer, their insurer and the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Board to verify this claim and enroll in benefits.

Injuries Influence Benefits

Workers' compensation can provide you help with both medical bills and income support during your recovery. Depending on the type of injury you receive, you might qualify as disabled. Your disability might influence the coverage you receive, however. There are several benefit designations defined in state law:

Supplemental Earnings Benefits: Coverage can apply to employees who return to work after their injuries but face a cut in pay as a result.
Temporary Disability Benefits: If you have to stop working for a time, then this coverage will pay a portion of your income during your recovery. There is a limit on how much money you can receive per year. Your coverage will terminate once you reach a certain point of recovery.

Permanent Total Disability Benefits: If an injury leaves you totally unable to work, then you will receive benefits for as long as you continue to have the disability.
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits: Though you might get disabled in an accident, you might be able to return to work. Even in situations like amputations or permanent loss of hearing, you still could return to the workforce. Coverage will pay you an additional benefit for a certain period of time.