New Orleans Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Explains What Qualifies as a Workplace Accident in Louisiana
Workplace accidents happen every day across New Orleans, but not every injured New Orleans worker understands what legally qualifies as a workplace accident. Whether an injury occurs on a construction site, in an office, at a warehouse, or while performing other job duties, understanding how Louisiana defines a workplace accident is an important first step in protecting your rights.
The Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Act provides a specific legal definition of an accident, and that definition can play an important role in determining whether an injured worker may be entitled to benefits.
Here we explain what a workplace accident is under Louisiana law and how a New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyer can help after a workplace injury.
Louisiana Law Provides a Definition of a Workplace Accident
The Louisiana Workforce Commission explains that the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Act defines an accident as:
“An accident is defined by the Louisiana Workers Compensation Act as an unexpected or unforeseen actual, identifiable, precipitous event happening suddenly or violently, with or without human fault, and directly producing at the time objective findings of an injury which is more than simply a gradual deterioration or progressive degeneration.”
This definition highlights that a workplace accident in New Orleans generally involves a specific event that results in an identifiable injury rather than the normal progression of an existing condition.
Workplace Accidents Can Occur in Many Different Ways in New Orleans
Many New Orleans workers think of workplace accidents as falls or equipment-related incidents, but workplace accidents can occur in a variety of settings. For example, New Orleans workers may be injured by slipping on a wet floor, falling from a ladder, being struck by equipment, lifting heavy objects, or being involved in a motor vehicle accident while performing work duties. Every workplace is different, and so are the hazards workers may encounter.
Understanding how an injury occurred can be an important part of evaluating a workers’ compensation claim.
Reporting and Documenting a Workplace Accident Is Important
After a workplace accident, documentation often becomes an important part of the claims process. Accident reports, medical records, witness information, and other evidence may help establish when and how an injury occurred. Taking appropriate steps after a workplace accident in New Orleans can help protect an injured New Orleans worker’s rights and reduce disputes later in the claims process.
Learning about your legal options early is important to protecting your rights after a serious workplace accident. Speaking with an experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyer is the best way to start.
How a New Orleans Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help
An experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyer can evaluate the circumstances surrounding a workplace accident, explain your rights under Louisiana workers’ compensation laws, help gather supporting documentation, address disputes, and fight for the benefits available under Louisiana law. Having experienced legal representation can help injured workers focus on their recovery while their legal rights are protected.
New Orleans Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
The experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC help injured New Orleans workers understand their rights and pursue the workers’ compensation benefits available under Louisiana workers’ compensation laws. If you were injured in a workplace accident, contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC and speak with a lawyer about your case now.
Source:
laworks.net/FAQs/FAQ_WorkComp_RightsAndResponsibilities.asp
