re: Louisiana Workers Comp Questions

1. Report the injury at once if you have not. Request a doctor of your own choosing.

2. You have the right to your own choice of doctor in any field or specialty that may be used to treat your injury. You have a back injury, so that could be orthopedic, neurosurgeon, pain management, etc. You will not have a right to a gynecologist.

3. Your employer has the same choice for second opinions.

4. What treatment you can actually receive is governed by the Medical Guidelines. Your doctor will have to submit requests for treatment to the comp carrier on forms prescribed by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Most doctors have this process down now.

5. There is a 7 day waiting period before indemnity benefits (weekly checks) are owed. You get paid for that waiting period if you are out more than 2 weeks.

6. If you need an attorney most of the Louisiana Workforce Commission Offices of Workers' Compensation maintain lists of attorneys that represent injured workers.

7. If you decide to hire an attorney ask what percentage of their practice is workers' comp. Less than 50% go to someone else. It is a specialized area of the law and you need someone very familiar with how it works.

8. Tell the absolute truth at all times. Insurance carriers are always looking for potential fraud claims as this results in a forfeiture of benefits.

The best thing to do is get treatment as soon as possible and get back to work as soon as possible. Dragging it out will only make your life miserable.