If you or a loved one has been injured at work, our Lake Charles workplace accident lawyer can assist you in obtaining full workers’ compensation benefits and evaluating whether you have a valid personal injury claim. Call Hale Injury Lawyers today at (337) 426-1071.
Our lawyers have a combined experience of over 61 years, during which we have helped accident victims like you recover tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. We can help you pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. To learn more about how our team can assist you, contact our law office to schedule a free consultation.
Reasons to Trust Our Team at Hale Injury Lawyers to Handle Your Workplace Accident Case in Lake Charles
Injured workers have an option that isn’t available to most accident victims: workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is meant to offer a simple way to help injured workers get by while they recover.
Unfortunately, insurance companies often complicate matters. There are many ways to challenge a worker’s right to benefits. It’s also possible that you deserve more compensation than workers’ comp offers. An experienced Lake Charles personal injury attorney can help you overcome any challenges you’re facing.
You can count on our team at Hale Injury Lawyers to:
- Identify everyone who shares blame for your accident
- Determine whether you’re receiving the correct workers’ comp benefits
- Protect you if your workers’ compensation claim is delayed or denied
- Defend you if your doctor claims you should return to work before you’re ready
- Help you file your initial claim for benefits to avoid any mistakes
- Negotiate with the workers’ compensation insurance companies
Over the years, our lawyers have been recognized as Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars and The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40. We’ve also helped countless clients in situations similar to yours. To learn more about this area of law, call our Lake Charles personal injury lawyers for a free consultation.
How Often Are Louisiana Workers Involved in Accidents?
Workplace accidents are common across all industries in Louisiana.
Over 31,000 non-fatal workplace injuries were reported across the State of Louisiana in 2021. Sadly, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 141 Louisiana workers were killed in fatal workplace accidents that year.
About 16,400 of those work-related injuries were serious enough to require time away from work, job transfers, or job restrictions.
At Hale Injury Lawyers, our workers’ compensation attorneys in Lake Charles handle all types of work accident claims, including those involving:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Construction accidents
- Scaffolding falls
- Accidents involving cranes, forklifts, and heavy machinery
- Accidents where the worker is struck by an object
- Accidents where the worker is caught between two objects
- Electrocutions and electric shock
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Trucking accidents
If you have questions about your legal rights after a work-related accident, contact our law firm in Lake Charles to schedule a free case review today.
What Is My Lake Charles Workplace Accident Claim Worth?
The value of your case will depend heavily on the severity of your injuries. That said, putting a dollar value on an injury can be difficult.
As a general rule of thumb, the factors that will impact your case value include:
- The cost of your medical care
- How long it takes to recover
- Your average wages prior to the accident
- Whether you can work in any capacity during recovery
- Whether your earnings will be diminished after reaching maximum medical improvement
- Whether you can file a personal injury lawsuit or are limited to workers’ comp benefits
Most injured workers receive about ⅔ of their average weekly wages via the workers’ comp system. However, workers’ compensation benefits are also capped by state law in Louisiana.
The bottom line? Even if you’re receiving full benefits, it might not be enough to get by. Our Lake Charles workplace accident attorneys can help you determine whether you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit for additional compensation.
How Do I Recover Compensation After a Work-Related Accident in Lake Charles?
How you recover compensation depends on who was responsible for your accident. Nearly all employees are covered by workers’ compensation under Louisiana law. You should file a claim for workers’ comp as soon as possible after suffering a workplace injury.
It’s also possible that you may be entitled to file a lawsuit for damages. However, you’re not allowed to sue your employer in most cases. You can only seek additional compensation if a third party was responsible for your injuries.
For example, you may have a valid personal injury case against a:
- Negligent driver in a car accident
- Manufacturer of defective work equipment
- Vendor or supplier
- General contractor
- Property owner if your injury happened due to dangerous property conditions
Filing a lawsuit can help you recover valuable compensation in addition to workers’ comp. Contact our Lake Charles workplace accident attorneys for more information today.
What Types of Damages Are Available After a Workplace Accident in Lake Charles?
Workers’ compensation provides three basic types of benefits: disability benefits, medical benefits, and death benefits.
Workers’ comp should cover all of your reasonable and necessary medical expenses. You’re also entitled to a weekly disability check to replace wages you lose during and after recovery.
There are several different types of workers’ compensation disability benefits, including:
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
- Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB) to supplement what you can earn during recovery
- Lump sum benefits in cases involving catastrophic and permanent injury
- Vocational rehabilitation if you can’t return to your prior work
- Mileage reimbursement
Personal injury laws also allow injury victims to seek compensation for economic and non-economic losses.
In a personal injury case, you can seek compensation for:
- All medical expenses
- 100% of your lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Embarrassment and inconvenience
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
If you have questions about the types of compensation you deserve, contact our Lake Charles workers’ compensation lawyers for a free case evaluation today.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for My Workplace Injuries in Louisiana?
Workers’ comp is a no-fault system. With a few rare exceptions, shared fault won’t impact your right to workers’ compensation benefits.
Under Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence laws, however, your personal injury settlement or verdict will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault.
Our Lake Charles Work Accident Attorneys Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
At Hale Injury Lawyers, we’ll fight to recover full compensation for your injuries–no matter how big or small.
Common workplace injuries include:
- Back injuries
- Herniated discs
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Facial injuries
- Hearing loss
- Lung damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
We can also help you recover compensation for wrongful death if you lost a loved one in a fatal workplace accident.
What Causes Most Work-Related Accidents in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
Work accidents happen for many different reasons. Any type of workplace can become dangerous if people are careless.
Some of the most common causes of workplace accidents include:
- Overexertion
- Lack of proper fall protection equipment
- Defective machinery
- Failure to properly maintain machinery and work equipment
- Communication failures
- Exposure to harmful substances or toxic materials
- Failure to properly train or supervise employees
- Violation of state or federal OSHA safety regulations
- Violations of industry standards
- Lack of necessary safety equipment
- Overworking and fatigue
- Dangerous property conditions
- Intentional workplace violence
- Negligent hiring practices
- Negligent security
- Negligent driving
Understanding the cause of your workplace accident is critical to recovering fair compensation. By identifying the precise cause of your accident, our lawyers in Lake Charles can determine whether a third party shares responsibility for your accident so that you have a right to file a third-party claim for damages.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim After a Workplace Accident in Louisiana?
The deadline to file a workers’ compensation claim in Louisiana depends on the type of benefits you’re entitled to receive. Most injured workers have either one year or three years to file a claim for workers’ comp.
The statute of limitations in Louisiana personal injury cases is only two years. You lose your right to sue a negligent third party for damages after two years pass.
Regardless of how you pursue compensation, if you wait too long to get legal help, you could miss the deadline and leave money on the table.
Contact a Lake Charles Workplace Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation
Do you have questions about your legal right to compensation after a workplace accident in Lake Charles? Contact our law offices today at (337) 888-4253! for a free case review. An experienced Lake Charles workplace accident lawyer will carefully review your case and help you understand your legal options.
Lake Charles, LA Emergency Rooms
- Lake Charles Memorial Hospital: Emergency Room – 1701 Oak Park Blvd, Lake Charles, LA 70601
- CHRISTUS Ochsner Lake Area Hospital: Emergency Room – 4200 Nelson Rd, Lake Charles, LA 70605
- CHRISTUS Dubuis Hospital – 524 South Ryan St 5th floor, Lake Charles, LA 70601
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
Lake Charles Workplace Accident Testimonial
“Blake Hale is the absolute TRUTH!! I couldn’t speak higher about this family man, who truly cares about his clients. I’ve referred multiple people to him and I won’t stop because he worked magic for me and the people I refer. If I could rate more than 5 stars I 100% would. They cover such a wide range of legal issues that they cover. Just give them a call and I promise you won’t be disappointed!!!”
– Courtney Jicks
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