Louisiana workers’ compensation after an auto accident

If you drive for a living, you can file a workers’ compensation claim if an auto accident injury occurs on the clock. Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy may pay medical bills, lost wages and other costs.

Explore the process of seeking workers’ comp benefits for a work-related Louisiana motor vehicle accident.

Reporting the injury

You should follow your employer’s official process for reporting a work-related auto accident. In addition, Louisiana gives you 30 days to make an official report of your injuries for workers’ compensation purposes. Your employer will submit a form titled “First Report of Injury” to the Louisiana Workforce Commission and to its insurance provider.

Seeking medical care

If you need emergency medical help after the accident, you can go to the hospital or doctor of your choice. For non-emergency care, you can choose the specialists you need depending on your injury. However, you may need employer approval to change doctors after you make your selection.

Receiving benefits

If your employer’s insurance provider approves your claim, you may be eligible for:

• Coverage for all reasonably necessary medical appointments, tests, procedures, devices and prescriptions
• Mileage reimbursement for travel to medical appointments
• Temporary total disability payments
• Permanent partial or total disability payments
• One-time payment of up to $50,000 for a catastrophic injury such as double amputation, loss of both eyes, paraplegia or quadriplegia

Keep in mind that you can only seek workers’ comp after a car accident if you were performing job duties when the accident happened. You can not receive these benefits if you got in an accident during your commute to work or while taking a lunch break.