Are you employed at a job in Louisiana? Do you know about your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance or even if your employer carries insurance to compensate you in case you are injured at work? Most employers in Louisiana have this type of insurance, which is a legal requirement. If you are injured or become ill because of your job, you may be able to make a workers’ comp claim to recover medical costs and part of any wages you might lose if unable to return to work. Employment in Louisiana Workers in Louisiana are employed in hundreds of different occupations but there are some occupations that employ a very large proportion of the working age population. The U.S. Bureau of Statistics figures for 2015 (the latest figures available) show us that just over 1.9 million people are employed in one job or another in the state, with the most common category of employment being office and administrative support. 280,000 employees work in this category, earning a median annual income of $31,150, less than the state’s median annual income of $40,180. The next five most common occupations are: sales jobs; food preparation; transport; healthcare and production. Employers’ Responsibilities for Workers’ Compensation Insurance Most employers in Louisiana are required to take out workers’ compensation insurance with a commercial insurer in case one or more of their employees suffers an injury while at work or becomes ill due to a work related illness. Few employers are exempt from workers’ compensation insurance. Any employer that employs temporary, permanent, full or part time, workers must make sure that they have sufficient insurance. The few exemptions include: Domestic workers Most volunteers Real estate employees Public employees who are covered by their own agreements. If an employee thinks that their employer is not in an exempt category, yet suspects that they are not insured, he or she should contact the Louisiana Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration Fraud & Compliance section, or an attorney to verify their employer’s status. It’s always better to know before you are affected by an injury than afterwards! Other Relevant Information About Workers’ Comp Rules in Louisiana As an employee it is your responsibility to make sure that your employer is made aware of your injury or illness. For compensation purposes you will need to fill in a number of forms and make sure that any evidence that you sustained the injury or became ill while at your workplace is available for inspection. Fault is not usually taken into consideration with workers’ compensation. In other words, if an accident left you injured but some of the blame could be yours, this should not affect a workers’ comp claim in Louisiana. However, as in other states, it is impossible to apply for compensation if it is found that you have deliberately caused your own injuries. Speaking With An Attorney It can be frustrating filing a workers’ compensation claim. You may be getting nowhere with it because your employer is either uncooperative, illegally uninsured, your claim is denied or seems to be insufficient to meet your medical costs and compensate you properly for time off work. If any of these scenarios fits your particular situation, it may be time to call a Louisiana workers’ comp attorney to help you know what your rights are and how you should proceed with you claim.
