Workers' Compensation insurance in Louisiana covers a wide range of on-the-job physical injuries, occupational diseases, and, in some cases, mental injuries. Physical injuries must result from an on-the-job accident, which Louisiana law defines as something unexpected or unforeseen that happens suddenly and produces an injury at that time. An occupational disease is the result of conditions and causes specific to a particular occupation or type of employment where the employee is exposed to the disease. Mental injuries must be the result of workplace physical injuries or sudden, extraordinary, and unexpected stress related to the workers' job; these are harder to prove than physical injuries.
Injuries that Workers' Compensation May Cover
Common types of accidental on-the-job injuries covered by workers' compensation in Louisiana include the following:
- Lifting- or carrying-related injuries such as strains and sprains
- Injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents that happen on the job
- Repetitive stress injuries that result from repetitive movements at work, such as those that happen with computer keyboards or on assembly lines
- Loss of hearing from being exposed to workplace noise for a long period
- Electrical or chemical burns from accidental exposures or spills
- Broken or dislocated bones caused by slips or falls
Common types of occupational diseases covered by worker's compensation in Louisiana include:
- Asbestosis and mesothelioma resulting from prolonged on-the-job exposure to asbestos (especially along the Mississippi Gulf Coast)
- Some types of cancer caused by long-term exposure to chemicals and other hazardous materials at work
- Silicosis caused by inhaling silica dust in the workplace
- Dermatitis resulting from exposure to any number of different types of workplace irritants
Mental injuries that workers' compensation may cover in Louisiana include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a traumatic work-related accident
- Depression or other mental health conditions that may follow as a result of experiencing a physical injury on the job or from having an occupational disease
Delsa Law Firm, LLC, Can Help You Determine if Worker's Compensation covers your Injury
If you've experienced a workplace injury or have been diagnosed with a condition that is potentially related to your work, or are suffering from a mental injury that may be related to your work accident, contact the Delsa Law Firm, LLC, to discuss your situation and learn more about your rights. Attorney Delsa has years of experience representing clients all over Louisiana as well in Gulfport, Picayune, Poplarville, and all over Southwest Mississippi with workers' compensation questions and can help determine whether you are entitled to workers' compensation benefits.
You can reach the Delsa Law Firm, LLC, by phone at (985) 882-1222 or through our online contact form. We are conveniently located in Slidell, near the intersection of Interstates 10, 12, and 59.