Vocational Rehabilitation in Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Cases – How Does It Work?
One of the things that injured Louisiana workers may have heard about when it comes to workers’ compensation benefits that they may be entitled to if they are injured on the job is vocational rehabilitation services. Indeed, in addition to wage replacement compensation, compensation for medical expenses, and other compensation, injured Louisiana workers who are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits may also receive vocational rehabilitation services as part of their benefits. But what exactly are vocational rehabilitation services in Louisiana workers’ compensation cases, and what can injured Louisiana workers do to obtain these important benefits? We answer those questions here.
What is a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist?
Before diving into what exactly vocational rehabilitation services are and how they can benefit injured Louisiana workers, it is important for injured Louisiana workers to know what a vocational rehabilitation specialist is. Simply put, a vocational rehabilitation specialist in the context of a Louisiana workers’ compensation case is a person who helps Louisiana injured workers navigate their physical injuries caused by their workplace accident so that they can ultimately return to work. A vocational rehabilitation specialist may provide an injured Louisiana worker with services such as career counseling, on-the-job training, and other important services to help them gain independence after being seriously injured on the job.
How Do Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists Get Injured Louisiana Workers Back to Work?
The Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Commission’s vocational rehabilitation program, called Workaction, is geared towards helping injured Louisiana workers get back to work after they are injured on the job. Under the program, “Vocational rehabilitation specialists help injured employees get back to work by providing on-site job analysis and recommend modified or transitional duty alternatives to ease the injured employee back into the workforce.” First a vocational rehabilitation specialist visits the injured employee’s worksite to analyze the job and to help figure out if there is lighter work that the employee can do while injured. Then the vocational rehabilitation specialist writes up a report that goes to the injured worker’s treating physician. The injured worker’s physician reviews the report and makes recommendations about the injured worker’s ability to work, including restrictions that they should have. Finally, the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Commission takes the write-up by the injured worker’s doctor and makes a plan with the injured worker for “transitional duty.”
Getting Legal Help with Your Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Case – Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Injured Louisiana workers are entitled to work with legal counsel on their workers’ compensation cases. If you are in the Louisiana area and you need legal help with your Louisiana workers’ compensation case, do not hesitate to speak with an experienced lawyer about your case today. The experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at the law firm Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC are here to help injured workers get workers’ compensation benefits due to them under Louisiana laws. Contact the experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your rights under Louisiana laws now.
Source:
lwcc.com/workers-comp/workaction
