New Orleans Amputation Lawyer
If you suffered the tragedy of losing a body part at work, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits that will pay for your full medical expenses, as well as wage replacement depending on the body part. Louisiana has a very specific set of rules regarding amputation injuries and how many weeks an injured employee can receive compensation. The New Orleans amputation lawyer at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC will do everything possible to ensure that you are fully compensated.
Schedule of Compensation for Various Louisiana Workplace Amputations
Following the loss of a body part (amputation), injured Louisiana workers are entitled to two-thirds of their average weekly wages for a specific number of weeks. However, there are wage caps. For example, if you earn an average of $5,000 a week, workers’ compensation will not pay you two-thirds of that. Unfortunately, the maximum anyone can be awarded in wage compensation in Louisiana is currently $743 per week, which comes to a little under $3,000 per month. Once your average weekly wages are determined, you will be paid for a specific number of weeks depending on the body part you lost:
- Thumb—50 Weeks
- First finger (index finger)—30 weeks
- Any other finger or big toes—20 weeks
- Any other toe—10 weeks
- Hand—150 weeks
- Arm—200 weeks
- Foot—125 weeks
- Leg—175 weeks
- Eye—100 weeks
- Both hands—permanent total disability (wage compensation for life)
- Both arms—permanent total disability (wage compensation for life)
- Both feet—permanent total disability (wage compensation for life)
- Both legs—permanent total disability (wage compensation for life)
- Both eyes—permanent total disability (wage compensation for life)
- One hand and one foot—permanent total disability (wage compensation for life)
- Paraplegia—permanent total disability (wage compensation for life)
- Quadriplegia—permanent total disability (wage compensation for life)
The Partial Loss of a Limb, Hand, Finger, or Other Body Part
The location of the amputation matters when determining how many weeks you will receive wage replacement benefits. For example, the loss of an arm between the elbow and the wrist only counts as the loss of a hand under Louisiana’s schedule of lost body parts. Similarly, an amputation that occurs between the knee and ankle is only equivalent to the loss of a foot, not a leg. There are many unfair aspects to the system of workers’ compensation. We will do everything in our power, and exhaust every possible avenue, in order to maximize your compensation.
Medical Costs
Surgery, pain medications, physical therapy, and other expenses related to your injury and resulting amputation shall also be covered under workers’ comp benefits. This includes the cost of prosthetics. Acquiring the latest, most advanced prosthetics can be a challenge when dealing with insurance companies. As such, it is imperative that you work with an attorney so that your rights are protected and you receive the medical care and best prosthesis possible.
Contact a New Orleans Amputation Injury Lawyer
The New Orleans amputation injury lawyer at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC have your best interests at heart. Call us today at 601-488-3975 to schedule a free consultation with a New Orleans amputation injury lawyer if you suffered the loss of any body part while you were on the job.
