When you’ve been injured on the job, the last thing you want to worry about is how you’re going to pay your bills. Workers’ compensation laws exist to protect you in these moments, but navigating the process can be confusing, frustrating, and sometimes downright unfair. We put our knowledge and dedication to work for injured workers in New Orleans and throughout Louisiana to help them get the medical treatment, wage benefits, and peace of mind they deserve.
At the Gertler Law Firm, our Workers’ Compensation practice is led by attorney Leah Rhodes, who brings decades of experience representing both injured workers and the employers and insurance companies who handle their claims. This unique background gives our clients a powerful advantage in securing the benefits they’re entitled to under Louisiana law.
Leah Rhodes’ Experience in Workers’ Compensation
For over a decade, Workers’ Compensation cases made up roughly half of Leah’s cases as an attorney. She spent much of that time representing employers and insurers, including Gray Insurance Company, Markel Insurance Company, Ace Insurance Company, and working with the Third Party Administrators who handle their claims, such as Gallagher Basset, ESIS, and Sedgwick Claims. In doing so, she worked to defend claims for companies of all sizes, from small, family-run businesses to major corporations like Bollinger Shipyards, Aramark, Coca-Cola, Home Depot, Harrah’s Casino, Omni Hotel, Reily Foods, Community Coffee, and Zatarain’s, just to name a few.
By working extensively on the employer and insurance carrier side, Leah learned exactly how these cases are evaluated, how claims get approved or denied, and what strategies insurers use to limit payouts and force you back to work before you have healed from your injuries. Today, she uses that insider knowledge to fight for injured workers in New Orleans and across Louisiana.
In her work representing injured employees, Leah has secured settlements ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars for her clients.
How Workers’ Compensation Works in Louisiana
If you’ve been injured while performing your job, you may be entitled to benefits such as:
- Medical treatment at no cost to you: Doctor visits, hospital stays, rehabilitation, surgery, and prescriptions.
- Lost wage benefits: A percentage of your wages while you’re unable to work.
- Permanent disability benefits: For lasting injuries that impact your ability to work.
- Vocational rehabilitation: Training or assistance in finding a new job if you can’t return to your previous position.
While these benefits are designed to help you recover, the process can be complex, and insurance companies don’t make it easy. Having a lawyer who’s seen the process from both sides can make a major difference in your case.
Why Choose the Gertler Law Firm for Your Work Comp Claim
- Insider perspective: Leah’s years of work on the employer and insurance side mean she knows their playbook.
- Proven track record: Experience with cases involving both high-profile companies and local businesses.
- Personalized attention: You work directly with an attorney who understands your situation and explains your options clearly.
Common Work-Related Injuries We Handle
We represent clients with a wide range of workplace injuries, including:
- Back and neck injuries
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Burns and chemical exposure
- Crushing injuries
- Death
Deadlines for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Louisiana
Louisiana has strict timelines for reporting and filing workers’ comp claims. In most cases, you must notify your employer promptly when you sustain an injury and file a claim within one year. Missing important deadlines you may not even be aware of can put your benefits at risk, so it’s important to act quickly.
Talk to a New Orleans Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
If you’ve been hurt on the job, let the Gertler Law Firm put Leah Rhodes’ experience to work for you. We’ll review your case, explain your rights, and help you fight for the benefits you need to move forward.
Call us today at (504) 581-6411 or contact us online for a free consultation.