Can You Get New Orleans Workers’ Compensation Benefits If You Were Injured While Helping a Coworker?
New Orleans workplace accidents do not always happen while an employee is performing their usual job duties. Indeed, a New Orleans worker might be injured while helping a coworker lift something heavy, assisting with equipment, cleaning up a spill, or simply stepping in when another employee needs help. If this happens to you, you may wonder whether you can still pursue New Orleans workers’ compensation benefits even though you were not performing your normal work when you were injured.
The good news is that getting injured while helping a coworker does not necessarily prevent you from having a workers’ compensation claim. To help injured workers in New Orleans better understand their rights, here we discuss what injured workers should know about workers’ compensation in New Orleans and how an experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyer can help.
Can Helping a Coworker Lead to a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Louisiana workers’ compensation typically provides benefits for eligible employees who suffer injuries arising out of and in the course of their employment. As such, whether an injury occurred while an employee was performing their regular duties is not necessarily the only consideration.
For example, imagine that you normally work at a desk but a coworker asks you to help move a heavy piece of equipment. If you injure your back while helping, questions may arise about whether the accident occurred within the course of your employment.
Every New Orleans workplace accident is different. The specific circumstances surrounding what you were doing, why you were doing it, and how the injury occurred may therefore become important when determining whether you have a workers’ compensation claim.
What Workers’ Compensation Benefits May Be Available After a New Orleans Workplace Injury?
If you suffer a covered workplace injury, Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits may help address some of the financial consequences of your accident. Depending on your circumstances, workers’ compensation may provide medical benefits for necessary treatment related to your work injury. An eligible injured worker who is unable to work or whose injury affects their ability to earn wages may also qualify for disability benefits.
The benefits available depend on the individual circumstances of the worker and injury. If you are unsure whether an accident that happened while helping a coworker qualifies, an experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyer can evaluate what happened and explain your legal options.
A New Orleans Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Fight for Your Benefits
If you were injured while helping a coworker in New Orleans, an experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyer can investigate the circumstances of your workplace accident, explain your rights under Louisiana workers’ compensation law, address disputes concerning your claim, and fight for the benefits you may be entitled to receive.
The experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC fight for injured workers in New Orleans. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak with an experienced New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyer about your case now.
