We give each case the time and attention it deserves, and we treat everyone who walks through our doors like family.
From auto accidents to defective product injuries to workers’ compensation claims, we’re here to help Louisiana injury victims.
We value building relationships with the many people and organizations that make Louisiana a great place to live.
Dudley DeBosier has a trusted team of personal injury lawyers who have been helping injured people in Louisiana.
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by Dudley DeBosier | March 20th, 2020
All doctors have a responsibility to be honest and treat their patients to their best ability, and some are better than others. However, your company incentivizes you to pick company-provided doctors who are less likely to address the severity of your condition and look out for your best interest.
It can be tempting to choose a company doctor, but keep in mind how vitally important your initial doctor is. In order to receive compensation at all, you’ll need an initial medical diagnosis. After your treating doctor diagnoses your condition, they direct all of your medical care (whether you need physical therapy or medications, for example), refer you to other specialists, decide your work restrictions, determine your level of permanent disability, and provide evidence for your case. All their decisions directly affect your recovery and benefits.
The rules for choosing your treating doctor vary from state to state, but under Louisiana workers’ compensation law, you’re entitled to choose your own physician: one per field or specialty.
However, no matter whether you take a company doctor or your own, you’re also required to have an examination by a physician whom the employer and workers’ comp insurance company provide and pay for. This examination is called a Second Medical Opinion (SMO) — and if you refuse it, your lost wage payments may be suspended temporarily. It’s important to note the SMO doctor does not treat you; it’s a one-time, short evaluation to give insurance companies a potential basis for denying benefits.
That’s why choosing your initial treating doctor is so important. Make sure you consider their level of experience and skill, area of specialization, and familiarity with your type of injury. You may want to ask about their understanding of workers’ comp claims; it may indicate their willingness to advocate on your behalf and accept your workers’ comp medical fee schedule. Their availability for appointments and proximity from your home are also fair considerations when choosing your treating doctor.
If you’re in pain and need legal help to navigate this complicated journey, don’t feel pressured to continue alone. Dudley DeBosier’s team of legal experts have helped many people like you get through this difficult time, and with our No Fee Guarantee, you’ll never pay us unless we get you money.
by Dudley DeBosier | February 17th, 2020
If you recently suffered an injury or illness that put you out of work, you need a way to replace your lost paychecks. For many people, workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability (SSD) are the two solutions that come to mind, but they may not know which one is right for them or the differences between the two programs.
Both programs are designed to meet the same need: providing income for people who can’t work due to health problems, illnesses, or disability. But that’s where the similarities end. There are significant differences between the two, and having an advocate on your side who understands those differences and which one is right for you is essential.
At Dudley DeBosier, our Louisiana workers’ comp and SSD lawyers handle both types of claims, and that means we know the intricacies of initial applications and appeals when claims are denied. Don’t go it alone when it comes to getting compensation that your family needs during this difficult time. Get our legal team on your side, and let us work hard on your behalf.
Workers’ Comp vs SSD: How Do You Know Which is Right for You?
You’ve probably met people who have received either workers’ compensation or SSD benefits. You may even know people who have received both, whether at different times or the same time. Learning which one you need or are eligible for requires an understanding of both programs.
To get a crash course on the differences between workers’ comp and SSD benefits, check out the infographic below.
There are other differences between these two income-replacement programs, and our legal team is ready to help you understand those differences. Don’t proceed without an experienced legal advocate on your side, as you may risk pursuing the wrong type of benefits or losing out on money you deserve.
We’ll Help You Avoid Common Workers’ Comp and SSD Pitfalls
Although there are many differences between workers’ comp benefits and SSD benefits, they share one thing: how difficult they are to get.
Both the Louisiana Worker’s Compensation Board and the Social Security Administration are notoriously difficult and strict when it comes to approving both initial applications and appeals. The wait times can also be long, which can mean months or years without the money you need. You don’t have time to wait for a long, drawn-out process, and you shouldn’t have to deal with rejections over minor details or oversights.
Our lawyers know the ins-and-outs of both systems, and we’ll work hard to make sure your claim or appeal is accurate, complete, and filed on time. When you contact us, it’s our goal to get you as much money as possible, as quickly as possible—all while answering your questions and addressing your concerns. That’s the Dudley DeBosier Difference. Contact us today for a free consultation.
by Dudley DeBosier | June 19th, 2019
If you are injured on the job or become ill due to conditions at work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Most employers are required by law to provide workers’ compensation insurance to their employees to help cover the costs of medical treatment, prescriptions, rehabilitation, and lost wages due to a work-related injury. Firing an employee for filing a claim or otherwise discouraging an employee from filing a claim is illegal.
Filing a workers’ compensation claim is not the same as suing your employer. Unlike a personal injury lawsuit, you are not required to prove negligence, only that your injury was acquired on the job. If you become injured on the job, you must inform your employer and your employer’s insurer of your injury in a timely manner. Once a claim has been accepted you have three additional years in which to assert a claim for additional medical benefits, or one year if you do not.
Be prepared to explain how the injury occurred, provide the date and time of day of the injury, and the names of any witnesses. In non-emergency situations, you may be required to submit to an evaluation for the injury from a doctor of your employer’s choice.
Most workers’ compensation claims are denied because the employer is put on notice of the injury too late or without sufficient information, but hiring an attorney to help with your workers’ compensation claim can help you maximize your chances of approval. When you work with the Louisiana workers’ compensation attorneys at Dudley DeBosier, we’ll do everything we can to ensure your claim is approved. This includes completing all necessary paperwork, meeting all deadlines, compiling evidence to support your claim, and calculating your lost wage claim and level of disability.
Your employer may try to dispute your version of events or claim your injury was due to a pre-existing condition. If you choose us to handle your claim, we’ll do everything we can to protect your rights. If your claim is denied, our attorneys can work to resolve your case through mediation or bring it before a workers’ compensation judge in an official court hearing.
If you or someone you love was injured or became disabled while on the job, the workers’ compensation attorneys at Dudley DeBosier are ready to help you get the benefits you deserve. Contact us today for a free case review.
by Dudley DeBosier | February 28th, 2019
Most employers are required to provide workers’ compensation coverage to their employees in the event of a work-related injury or illness. Unfortunately, for many Louisianians injured on the job, it’s not as simple as filing a claim and getting compensation to help pay medical bills and support their families. Valid workers’ compensation claims are often denied, leaving hard-working people like you wondering how they will pay their bills.
If you or a loved one suffered a work-related injury or illness and your workers’ compensation claim was denied, don’t give up—you have the right to appeal the denial. Read below to learn more about the three possible steps you may take to appeal your Louisiana workers’ comp claim denial.
Mediation is a process where an attorney works with both parties to agree on a solution. When it comes to workers’ compensation appeals in Louisiana, both parties must agree to take this step. This explains why the process is referred to as voluntary mediation.
The voluntary mediation process is informal and takes place outside of a courtroom. If no resolution is reached, you still have options.
If your employer does not agree to mediation, or if you failed to reach a resolution, you still may be able to get the benefits you deserve. After filling out the proper state paperwork, you will be granted a workers’ compensation court hearing. Like voluntary mediation, this step allows both sides to tell their story. However, a hearing is presided over by a judge rather than an attorney, and takes place in a courtroom setting.
After both sides state their case, the judge will decide the case and issue a decision within 30 days.
If your benefits are denied at the hearing level, you can appeal that denial, too. However, unlike previous steps that involve the State of Louisiana, further appeals are decided at the federal level by the Circuit Appellate Court.
Getting the Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits you deserve isn’t always a straightforward process. From ensuring you fill out claims paperwork accurately and completely to dealing with your employer and their insurance company, Dudley DeBosier is here to answer your questions and fight for your benefits.
We offer free, no-obligation consultations, and we don’t charge for our services unless you get money for your claim—that’s our No Fee Guarantee®. Call or contact us online to get started now.
by Dudley DeBosier | February 1st, 2019
by Dudley DeBosier | June 18th, 2018
You count on your paychecks to support yourself and your family. But when a work-related illness or injury keeps you out of work for weeks, months, or even years, finding a way to pay your medical bills while still providing for your family can feel stressful and defeating. Fortunately, most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to help cover medical treatment and lost wages.
If you get hurt while working or suspect your medical condition may be caused by your work conditions, the workers’ compensation attorneys at Dudley DeBosier want to help. It’s our goal to help you get all of the benefits you’re owed.
Here are 4 steps you can take after you’re injured at work to increase your chances of filing a successful workers’ compensation claim:
Report the injury to your employer.
As soon as you’re able, report the accident and injury to your supervisor. Be specific when describing the incident and include details like when and where it occurred, the names of any witnesses, and the events leading up to the accident. Take photos of the scene if you can. Once you report this information to your employer, you can fill out an incident report to document the injury.
Get medical attention.
Seek medical attention as soon as possible after your injury occurs. Not only will this protect your health, it can also help protect your rights to compensation. Seeing a doctor shortly after the incident creates a record of the date and helps to solidify that the injury is work-related. Tell the doctor about your injury, how it happened, and if you have any pre-existing injuries or conditions.
File a claim with your employer’s insurance company.
After you see a doctor, you’ll have a better understanding of your medical expenses and your potential recovery period. Keep this in mind when filing for workers’ compensation benefits. The insurance company is looking to pay you as little money as possible, and they may deny your claim or offer you far less than you deserve for the severity of your injury.
Contact an experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation attorney.
If you’ve been denied the benefits you need to support yourself and your family after your workplace injury, contact a lawyer. In some cases, getting approved for workers’ compensation is as simple as filling out an application completely, accurately, and on time. But if you’ve submitted an accurate claim and still don’t receive fair compensation, an attorney may be able to fight for your benefits—even if that means going to trial.
Many circumstances can lead to an on-the-job injury, such as hazardous conditions, poor training, or defective materials. If you suffered a workplace injury or work-related illness, the Louisiana workers’ compensation attorneys at Dudley DeBosier are here for you. Our legal team has pursued compensation on behalf of hundreds of injury victims, and we want to help you, too. Contact us today.
by Trey Dominique | June 23rd, 2016
An injured employee cannot be fired for simply bringing a workers’ compensation claim against his employer. While Louisiana is an “at-will” work state, the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Act specifically bars employers from terminating an employee who makes a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
The specific statute, Louisiana Revised Statue 23:1361, is meant “to prevent unjust dismissals and to allow employees to exercise their right to workers’ compensation benefits without fear of retaliatory action by their employers.”[1]
An employee who has been terminated for making a claim may be entitled to civil penalties. The penalty is the amount the person would have earned if he had not been wrongfully terminated. When bringing this type of claim, the Court must decide the actual reason for the termination of employment. The injured employee is required to show, by direct record evidence or by a preponderance of the evidence that the termination of employment was due to the injured employee’s assertion of a claim for benefits.
If you have ever been injured in the workplace and feel that you have been wrongfully terminated, we highly recommend that you speak to an attorney. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (866) 897-8495 or fill out a free initial consultation form.
[1] Hooker v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 38,350 (La. App. 2d Cir., 2004), 870 So. 2d 1131.
by Scott Sonnier | October 30th, 2015
Workers’ compensation does not allow for any award for pain and suffering. However, you can be compensated for a permanent partial impairment to many body parts and you may be compensated for any disfiguring scars or the loss of teeth.
Care for injured workers is now governed by Medical Treatment Guidelines that have been promulgated by the State. The process for requesting treatment and appealing any denials of treatment is complex and time sensitive. An attorney can help you through this process.
Your employer is not required to hold your job or to let you return to work with them after your accident by the workers’ compensation laws. Your employer may be required to do so by other laws, such as FMLA, for a period of time. Your employer is prohibited from terminating your employment because you had a work accident.
Your employer may identify other jobs that you may be physically capable of performing after your accident, but your employer is not obligated to retrain you to get another job.
Most injured workers are limited to 520 weeks (ten years) of workers’ compensation benefits for lost wages. It is possible that for a very serious injury you can receive benefits for longer than 520 weeks in some circumstances.
by Alyssa Perot-Heltz | August 31st, 2015
After suffering an injury on the job, the process of filing a workers’ compensation claim and understanding what your rights are can be overwhelming.
During this time of uncertainty, please know that we are here and ready to help.
If you’ve been injured, we can arrange a virtual meeting in order to start work on your case right away.
While COVID-19 presents a danger to our community, we will adhere to Louisiana State Law and Gov. John Bel Edwards's recommendations, and close our physical office. However, we remain fully operational, and we’ll continue to offer our services via telecommunications.
Please click here to learn more about our business continuity plan.
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