Workers’ Compensation 101.

What happens if you get injured on the job and can’t work? Where do you get the money to pay for your medical bills? You’ve probably heard of the answer: it’s workers’ compensation.

But you might not know how workers’ compensation works.

So let’s take a look.

The Basics of Workers’ Compensation.

Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance program that employers pay into to provide their workers with an efficient and quick way to receive money for their work-related injuries.

While the claim process is supposed to be straight-forward, there are certain procedures that must be followed to file a valid claim. Also, it is important to keep in mind that not all injuries qualify for workers’ compensation.

So, for example, while you may be able to get workers’ compensation for an injury caused by faulty equipment or caused by repetitive typing if you are a typist, you cannot recover for injuries incurred outside the scope of your employment or the intentional misconduct of your fellow workers.

When you make a workers’ compensation claim, you do not have to prove negligence. In other words, you do not have to prove that your employer was in any way and that it was this carelessness or breach of duty by your employer that caused your injuries. On the other hand, the payments you receive from workers’ compensation are capped by law, and you agree in accepting workers’ compensation payments that you will not sue your employer as a way of trying to get more than the capped amount.

In essence, then, workers’ compensation claims are a tradeoff. You get paid a certain limited amount of money to compensate you for your injuries, and you don’t have to prove that your employer was “at fault,” but the employer is protected from lawsuits.

Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Louisiana.

If you have been injured at work, contact us ToDay. We are experienced workers’ compensation and personal injury attorneys. We offer FREE consultations.  Our offices are in Baton Rouge, and we serve Baker, Denham, Gonzales, Port Allen, Prairieville, New Orleans, and Zachary. Call 225-200-0000 ToDay to schedule your free consultation or contact us here.