Louisiana Workers’ Comp Settlement Chart [2024 Updated]

Being injured at work can be frustrating, but workers’ compensation can help keep you on your feet. When you recover damages through the workers’ compensation system, you can recover the value of medical bills and a portion of your lost wages. Reviewing a Louisiana workers’ comp settlement chart for the wages you can recover and the other damages included in a workers’ compensation settlement can give you a better idea of what you may be able to recover in your claim.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation in Louisiana

Workers’ compensation enables employees to recover a portion of their financial losses after being injured at work, without requiring proving fault. This claim can recover benefits including indemnity wage benefits, medical bill coverage, and the cost of vocational rehabilitation.

A majority of employers in Louisiana are required to cover the medical care and partial wages of an injured employee, and can pay this through carrying workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance protects both employees and employers. Employees are covered financially if they are injured while working, and employers are not held personally liable for their employee’s injuries.

If you are injured at work, the exact value of your workers’ compensation settlement largely depends on the specific financial damages of your injury. This includes the cost of treatment, the time you are unable to work, and the income you typically earn.

Indemnity Wage Benefits in Workers’ Compensation Claims

Indemnity wage benefits compensate you for a portion of the wages you would have usually earned if you were not injured. There are numerous types of lost wages benefits, including permanent or temporary partial or total disability benefits and supplemental earnings benefits. The benefits depend on whether or not you can return to work and how much your injury interferes with your daily life and work.

The average weekly wages, as determined by the state, as well as your own wages, will also impact the wage benefits you recover in your workers’ compensation settlements.

According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) Office of Workers’ Compensation Office, the weekly compensation benefits for workers’ compensation between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, are a minimum of $225.00 a week and a maximum of $845.00 a week. This is based on an average weekly wage of $1,127.21 a week. If an employee’s wages are less than the minimum, then their actual wages are paid.

For the past four years to the present, the weekly compensation benefits have been as follows:

How these limits apply to your case can vary, and an attorney can help you calculate the wages that you are owed in a workers’ compensation claim.

Other Benefits in Workers’ Compensation Claims

Depending on your injuries and the effect they have on your life, you could discover other benefits in a workers’ compensation case, including:

1. Medical bills, including current bills and future treatment directly associated with the injury. An attorney can help you review the medical bill benefits available under your workers’ compensation policy.
2. Vocational rehabilitation, if your injury has affected your ability to complete your work. This may require retraining in the same field, training in a new type of employment with the same employer, or other education to find new work.
3. Mileage, including driving to receive treatment, services, medication, and other needs. The LWC places the mileage reimbursement rate at $0.67 per mile for reasonable and necessary expenses.

If an employee does not survive their injuries at work, surviving family members could recover death benefits. It is important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible.

FAQs

How Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement Calculated in Louisiana?

A workers’ compensation settlement in Louisiana is calculated largely based on your medical bills, the wages you earn, and the severity of your injury. Benefits for lost wages are a portion of your usual weekly wages, up to a certain amount. Your workers’ compensation settlement should also recover all current medical bills and future medical costs associated with your injury, although there may be limits to this. These claims could also recover vocational rehabilitation and mileage to receive medical treatment.

What Is the Highest Workers’ Comp Settlement in Louisiana?

The value of other workers’ compensation claims cannot tell you the exact value of your workers’ compensation settlement in Louisiana. Some settlements are paid over time, while others are paid in lump sum. You are more likely to recover the most compensation possible to cover your specific financial losses if you work with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. They can review costs like medical bills and partial lost wages to determine what a fair settlement is.

Does Surgery Increase a Workers’ Comp Settlement in Louisiana?

Surgery could increase the total value of your workers’ compensation settlement in Louisiana, as it is one of the costs that would be covered. It also tends to be necessary for more serious injuries, which would require more time off of work and can affect your life more, leading to higher lost wage benefits. Receiving surgery for an injury does not guarantee a high settlement amount. It is important to talk about your unique citation with an experienced attorney.

Does Louisiana Workers’ Comp Pay for Pain and Suffering?

Louisiana workers’ compensation does not pay for pain and suffering. Noneconomic damages are subjective, hard to calculate, and are not a part of workers’ compensation claims. Pain and suffering damages may be available if you have the grounds to file a personal injury claim, such as if a third party is to blame for your accident. Typically, you cannot file a personal injury claim against your employer. An attorney can determine if you have any alternate options for recovering compensation.

Contact the Cox Law Firm in Louisiana Today

Work-related injuries can be frustrating, and it is not always easy to navigate workers’ compensation claims while you are dealing with pain and recovery. Skilled legal support can help you secure the maximum benefits from your workers’ compensation claim, gathering information about your financial losses to build a strong case. Contact the Cox Law Firm and see how we can help.