Do you reside in Louisiana and have been injured on the job? If you answered yes, then this article is for you.
Workplace injuries are among the most prevalent types of personal injuries. In 2019, Louisiana’s nonfatal workplace injury or illness incidence rate was 62.9 percent per 10,000 FTE (Full-time equivalent) workers, resulting in days absent from work (DAFW; means the injury you got resulted in you staying at home).
Such accidents might lead to a lot of medical bills stacking up in front of you. Not to mention the mental and physical consequences that might leave you unsure of what measures or steps to follow.
If you are not sure on what to do in such situations, it is best to sit down and read the full article, as it will define the meaning of personal injury, workplace injuries, and more. A personal injury attorney in Monroe, Louisiana is available for a free consultation should you have more questions.
What is personal injury
Personal injuries are defined as injuries caused by one’s negligent act or reckless behavior. If you were harmed in an automobile accident as a result of someone else’s reckless driving, you might have a case for personal injury.
Personal injury lawsuits almost often give the aggrieved party an injury claim or compensation for expenditures incurred or caused by the injury, such as medical bills, funerals, and others.
Understanding workplace injury
When we talk about workplace injuries, we mean injuries or illnesses that occurred while you were working or doing your job. Most of the time, these types of injuries are common among individuals who operate in hazardous environments, such as construction workers, industrial employees, and others.
There are numerous states that protect employees when something like this occurs. For instance, the state of Louisiana protects employees who have been injured on the job while carrying out their tasks and obligations. Louisiana’s workers’ compensation law ensures that each employee who is injured has workers’ compensation insurance and may file a compensation claim.
Furthermore, there are laws that mandate employers to ensure that the work environment is free from hazards. Employers must consider their employees’ safety and must constantly foresee the dangers or hazards associated with their employees’ jobs. With this, they should offer their employees safety and protective equipment to limit the danger of an accident or injury.
If you suffer a work-related injury or illness, it is best to consult a Monroe personal injury lawyer who can help you file a claim for your worker’s compensation benefits.
What are the common types of workplace injuries?
Now that you’ve learned the concept of personal injuries, especially workplace injuries, it’s time to learn about the common injuries, illnesses, or traumas covered by the workers’ compensation benefits.
Slip and fall accidents, and other physical injuries
Slip and fall is one of the common work-related injuries. Construction workers, manufacturing employees, roofers, and miners are most likely to experience this.
If the floor is wet, kitchen employees at a restaurant are prone to accidents such as slipping and falling. Another example is that if you are a high-rise window washer and the cable connecting to you or the cart you are in is malfunctioning, you will surely be involved in an accident. This will cause serious harm and, in the worst-case scenario, will lead you to your death.
In such instances, you might be eligible for worker’s compensation payments such as disability (partial or total disability) benefits.
Repetitive Strain Injuries
This kind of injury is caused by a job whose work needs repetitive motion. An excellent example of this is office workers whose job mainly involves typing on the computer. Suppose you do not have any ergonomic protection for your hands. In that case, you might suffer discomfort to your muscles, tendons, nerves, or even severe injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff injuries, and more.
It is important to take note that employers should have anticipated such problems and risks and that they should have provided you with proper equipment for protection.
Chronic Exposure Condition
This category includes jobs that involve continuous or recurring exposure to hazardous materials (such as chemicals) or environment. The most prevalent victims of these injuries are industrial employees. Given that the exposure level to hazard is high in these professions, employees should be entitled to safety clothing and equipment to ensure their safety and health.
If your company did not supply you with protective equipment and this resulted in serious illnesses such as lung cancer, you may need to seek the assistance of an accident attorney to help you file a personal injury case before the court and seek compensation claims.
Psychological traumas and mental illnesses
Workplace injuries are not limited to physical ones; emotional or psychological traumas can also be classified as a sort of personal injury. Psychological trauma can occur as a result of toxic or hostile work environment like when racism is common and discrimination is practiced on a regular basis.
Most of the time, severe work-related stress caused by the work environment might result in mental problems that prevent the individual from doing his or her job, not to mention the expensive medical care that they will need.
If this happens to you, do not be afraid to seek legal counsel. They will assist you in obtaining the medical attention you deserve and in obtaining fair compensation.
What steps should I take?
Suppose you have experienced the above-mentioned workplace injury or other work-related injuries. In that case, you must take note of the following steps to ensure that you can easily claim your workers’ compensation benefits or personal injury compensation.
Notify your supervisor or employer of your injuries in a timely manner.
It is critical that you disclose the event or injury to your supervisor or employer as soon as possible and within 30 days. Even if your injury seems small, you should report it since minor injuries might progress to severe ones over time.
In certain circumstances, work-related injuries develop without your knowledge, or you are not aware that the workplace caused your injury or condition. If this happens to you, you have 30 days from the moment you found your injury or sickness to notify your supervisor.
By alerting your supervisor, you will be able to aid yourself later in your case or claim for injury compensation.
Get your injuries checked out.
Having your injury diagnosed by a medical specialist assists you in proving that you have suffered work-related injuries. Some individuals refuse to go to the doctor because they believe it is unnecessary, but this is wrong. There are times when you believe your injury is small, but when it is diagnosed, it turns out to be a serious problem.
Keep a record of your injuries and the events that occurred.
It is critical to collect any data or facts connected to your workplace injury. Details such as the sequence of events that led to your accident, witnesses who corroborate your claims, or other shards of evidence that will assist you in proving that your injury occurred at work or while carrying out your job tasks and obligations.
Furthermore, even if your injury does not require a medical diagnosis, it is vital to take photographs as proof or evidence that you may utilize later on.
Work with a personal injury lawyer.
This is one of the most important things you must do. You’ll need the assistance of a personal injury attorney who has handled similar cases in the past. Employers will sometimes try to get out of their duties to pay or provide you with injury compensation and benefits. As a result, it is preferable that you be prepared if these things happen.
Seek the assistance of a personal injury lawyer!
Experiencing a work-related injury is challenging not just for you but also for your family. There are injuries that will prevent you from earning money, not to mention the medical bills that you will have to pay initially.
If this occurs to you, please contact our lawyers at Orum Young Law. For 35 years, we have fought passionately for our clients. Our experiences over the last 35 years have made us more skilled at managing issues like these. So let us fight for you to get the benefits and compensation that you deserve.
