Louisiana Workers Comp Guide
Filing a workers comp claim in Louisiana follows a specific sequence, and missing a step early on can slow down benefits you're otherwise entitled to.
How to File a Claim in Louisiana
The first step is always notifying your employer, in writing if possible, as soon as reasonably practical after the injury.
- Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible
- Seek medical treatment and inform the provider it's work-related
- Your employer files a First Report of Injury with their insurer
- File your own claim within Louisiana's deadline — see below
- Cooperate with the insurer's investigation and any requested exams
Filing Deadline and Waiting Period
Louisiana's general filing deadline is 1 year from the date of injury, and there's a 7-day waiting period before wage-replacement benefits begin. See the full filing deadline guide for tolling rules and what happens if you miss it.
What Happens After You File
After filing, the waiting period applies before wage-replacement benefits begin, and the insurer will typically assign a claims adjuster to your case shortly after.
Do You Need an Attorney in Louisiana?
Not every Louisiana claim needs an attorney — straightforward claims with no dispute over compensability often resolve without one. But if your claim is denied, disputed, or involves a permanent injury, the calculus changes. Louisiana caps attorney contingency fees at 20%.