Baton Rouge Workers' Compensation Attorney

Baton Rouge runs on hard, dangerous work. From the petrochemical plants and refineries along the Mississippi to the construction corridors on I-10 and I-12, warehouses, hospitals, and offshore staging yards — when that work injures you, Louisiana's workers' compensation system is supposed to cover your treatment and replace your lost wages. Too often, it doesn't.

Claims get delayed, doctors get second-guessed, benefits get cut off early, and adjusters quietly undervalue what you're owed. The workers' compensation attorneys at Brandt & Sherman have spent more than 50 years combined fighting exactly these battles for injured Louisiana workers. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.

Call (337) 800-4000 before you accept the insurance company's version of your claim.

What Benefits Does Louisiana Workers' Comp Provide?

• All necessary medical treatment for your work injury — with no co-pays or deductibles.
• Wage replacement (indemnity) benefits, generally two-thirds (66 2/3%) of your average weekly wage while you cannot work, subject to the state maximum — $877/week for injuries from September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, per the Louisiana Workforce Commission (adjusted every September).
• Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEBs) if you can return to work but earn less than 90% of your pre-injury wages — two-thirds of the difference, for up to 520 weeks.
• Permanent disability benefits for lasting impairment.
• Death benefits for dependents of workers killed on the job, plus burial expenses.
• Vocational rehabilitation if you can't return to your old job.

The Deadlines That Kill Valid Claims

1. Report your injury to your employer within 30 days. Report it in writing, even if it seems minor — unreported injuries become denied claims.
2. File your claim within one year of the accident (occupational disease claims run from when you knew or should have known the condition was work-related).
3. Keep every appointment. Gaps in treatment are the most common excuse insurers use to cut off benefits.

Your Doctor, Not Theirs

Louisiana law lets you choose your own treating physician in any specialty — you are not required to treat with the company doctor. Changing physicians within the same specialty later requires approval, so that first choice matters. And without mutual consent, non-emergency care over $750 requires authorization, which is where insurers slow-walk treatment. We push authorizations through and challenge improper denials.

We've broken this down in plain English here: Can you choose your own doctor for workers' comp in Louisiana?

Injuries We Handle for Baton Rouge Workers

We represent workers across the Capital Region's biggest industries:

• Plant and refinery injuries — chemical exposure, burns, explosions, turnaround work
• Construction accidents — falls, scaffolding, heavy equipment
• Warehouse and industrial injuries — forklifts, crush injuries, repetitive lifting
• Transportation and delivery crashes on the job
• Back, neck, and spine injuries
• Occupational illness and hearing loss

Not sure your injury qualifies? See what injuries are covered by workers' compensation in Louisiana.

Denied or Cut Off? Here's the Path Back

A denial is not the end of your claim — it's the start of the legal process. Disputed claims are filed with the Louisiana Office of Workers' Compensation (Form 1008) and heard by a workers' compensation judge. We handle the filing, discovery, medical depositions, and hearing — and when insurers act arbitrarily and capriciously, Louisiana law allows penalties and attorney's fees on top of your benefits.

If a supervisor pressured you not to report, or you were fired after reporting an injury, tell us. Louisiana law prohibits retaliation for asserting workers' comp rights.

The Question Most Injured Workers Never Ask: Is There a Third-Party Claim?

Workers' comp is generally your only remedy against your employer — but not against anyone else who caused your injury. A negligent contractor at your plant, a defective machine, or a driver who hit you while you were working can each create a separate personal injury lawsuit with far greater damages, including pain and suffering that workers' comp never pays. We evaluate every workers' comp case for third-party claims — it's often where most of the money is.

Offshore and maritime workers have different rights entirely under the Jones Act and LHWCA.

How much does a workers' comp lawyer cost?

Fees in Louisiana workers' comp cases are contingency-based and capped by law, and they require approval by the workers' compensation judge. You pay nothing up front and no attorney fee unless we recover for you. Clients may be responsible for costs and expenses.

Can I be forced back to work before I'm ready?

Insurers often lean on "independent" medical exams to declare you recovered. You have the right to challenge those opinions with your own treating physician's findings. This is one of the most common disputes we handle.

My employer says I'm an independent contractor. Am I out of luck?

Not necessarily. Louisiana looks at the reality of the working relationship, not the label on your paperwork. Misclassification is common in construction and plant work. Let us evaluate it.

Should I take the settlement the insurer offered?

Not before understanding what future medical care is being signed away. Lump-sum settlements end the insurer's obligations. Once you settle, there's no going back for the surgery you might need in five years.

Talk to a Baton Rouge Workers' Compensation Attorney

Brandt & Sherman represents injured workers throughout the Capital Region and all of south Louisiana. Call (337) 800-4000 or contact us online for a free consultation. No attorney fee unless we win. Clients may be responsible for costs and expenses.