Louisiana Workers' Compensation Settlement Calculator
Estimate Louisiana workers' comp — Maximum & Minimum Weekly Compensation Rate, Second Injury Fund
Louisiana workers' compensation claims are governed by La. R.S. 23:1202 / LWC Determination Sept 2026-Aug 2027 (Maximum & Minimum Weekly Compensation Rate): Max $903/week (75% of state AWW $1,204.02); Min $241/week (20% of state AWW), effective Sept 1, 2026-Aug 31, 2027. Of the 3 landmark Louisiana workers' compensation awards documented on this page, the largest is $640K (Workers' comp settlement — cervical and lumbar spine injury, hip tendinosis, headaches (Lafayette); 2025).
⚜️ LOUISIANA: Second Injury Fund | Supplemental Earnings Benefits | Exclusive Remedy
Your Injury
Your Estimated Settlement
$6,000 — $6,000
Pain and suffering = $15,000 in medical bills × 0.0 severity multiplier. Your bills are already included in that figure, so they are not added again.
Workers' compensation is a no-fault system: your benefits are not reduced because you were partly or fully responsible for the accident.
Workers' compensation does not pay pain and suffering. Unlike a personal injury claim, it covers medical treatment and a portion of your lost wages only — so no pain-and-suffering amount is included above.
This figure does not include a permanent impairment award. If your injury leaves lasting limitations, most states add a separate payment based on a doctor's impairment rating and a statutory schedule.
If someone other than your employer caused the injury — a subcontractor, a driver, a defective machine — you may also have a separate personal injury claim against that party, and that claim can include pain and suffering.
Keep this estimate — it is gone when you close the tab.
Workers' Compensation Wage Benchmark — New York State claims only
Across New York State claims only, this benchmark is based on 5,586,588 real payments totaling $139.7B from official New York State workers' comp claims.
Average
$25K
Median
$20K
25th %ile
$13K
90th %ile
$44K
Source: New York State Workers' Compensation Board (via data.ny.gov). These figures come from New York State claims only and do not describe benefit levels in other states. Actual payouts may vary based on individual circumstances.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor
Louisiana Workers' Compensation Law
Louisiana workers' compensation benefits is governed by La. R.S. 23:1202 / LWC Determination Sept 2026-Aug 2027 (Maximum & Minimum Weekly Compensation Rate): Max $903/week (75% of state AWW $1,204.02); Min $241/week (20% of state AWW), effective Sept 1, 2026-Aug 31, 2027. The rate is set annually by the Louisiana Workforce Commission based on the statewide average weekly wage; a new rate takes effect every September 1. The prior period (Sept 1, 2025-Aug 31, 2026) capped benefits at $877/wk (min $234/wk). No minimum applies to SEB or death benefits.
Disability Benefit Schedule (TTD/PTD/SEB/PPD) (La. R.S. 23:1221): 66⅔% of average weekly wage for TTD and PTD, subject to the state max/min; SEB equals 66⅔% of the wage difference when earning capacity drops below 90% of pre-injury wages, capped at 520 weeks. PPD scheduled-member awards: thumb 50 wks, index finger 30 wks, hand 150 wks, arm 200 wks, foot 125 wks, leg 175 wks, eye 100 wks, rated under the AMA Guides. Loss of both major members equals PTD. A one-time $50,000 catastrophic-injury payment applies for paraplegia, quadriplegia, loss of both limbs/eyes, or 3rd-degree burns over 40% of the body, payable within 1 year of injury.
Exclusive Remedy (La. R.S. 23:1032): Workers' comp is the exclusive remedy against the employer and principal contractors; the 'dual capacity' doctrine is expressly barred. The exception is an injury resulting from an 'intentional act' by the employer. Immunity does not extend to officers/co-employees acting outside the course of employment, or partnerships formed to evade the statute. Third-party tort claims against non-employer defendants remain available.
Key Louisiana Workers' Compensation Statutes
Louisiana workers' compensation benefits operates under these critical legal rules:
La. R.S. 23:1202 / LWC Determination Sept 2026-Aug 2027
Maximum & Minimum Weekly Compensation RateStandard: Max $903/week (75% of state AWW $1,204.02); Min $241/week (20% of state AWW), effective Sept 1, 2026-Aug 31, 2027
Scope: Rate set annually by the Louisiana Workforce Commission based on the statewide average weekly wage; a new rate takes effect every September 1. Prior period (Sept 1, 2025-Aug 31, 2026): max $877/wk, min $234/wk. No minimum applies to SEB or death benefits; monthly SEB cannot exceed 4.3x the TTD weekly rate.
La. R.S. 23:1221
Disability Benefit Schedule (TTD/PTD/SEB/PPD)Standard: 66⅔% of average weekly wage for TTD and PTD, subject to the state max/min; SEB = 66⅔% of the wage difference when earning capacity drops below 90% of pre-injury wages, capped at 520 weeks
Scope: PPD scheduled-member awards: thumb 50 wks, index finger 30 wks, other fingers/big toe 20 wks, other toes 10 wks, hand 150 wks, arm 200 wks, foot 125 wks, leg 175 wks, eye 100 wks, rated under the AMA Guides. Loss of both hands/arms/feet/legs/eyes = PTD absent proof of substantial earning capacity. One-time $50,000 catastrophic-injury payment (paraplegia, quadriplegia, loss of both limbs/eyes, or 3rd-degree burns over 40% of body), payable within 1 year of injury.
La. R.S. 23:1032
Exclusive RemedyStandard: Workers' comp is the exclusive remedy against the employer and principal contractors; the 'dual capacity' doctrine is expressly barred
Scope: Exception: employer liability is preserved for injuries 'resulting from an intentional act.' Immunity does not extend to officers/directors/co-employees not acting in the course and scope of employment at the time of injury, or to partnerships formed to evade the statute. Third-party tort claims against non-employer defendants remain available and commonly run parallel to a comp claim.
La. R.S. 23:1301
Notice of Injury to EmployerStandard: Notice of the injury must reach the employer within 30 days of the accident or death
Scope: Notice may be given by the injured worker or by anyone on their behalf. No workers' comp proceeding can be maintained without it, absent employer actual knowledge of the injury through other means.
La. R.S. 23:1209
Prescription (Filing Deadline)Standard: A formal claim must be filed within 1 year of the accident; extended to 3 years for delayed-onset/developing injuries and for SEB disputes under R.S. 23:1221(3)
Scope: If compensation has already been paid, the 1-year clock restarts from the date of the last payment (3 years for SEB and medical-benefit disputes). Medical-benefit claims follow the same 1-year/3-year structure. Litigated claims must reach a final hearing and determination within 5 years of filing or are dismissed for want of prosecution.
La. R.S. 23:1371, 23:1377-1378
Second Injury FundStandard: State-run fund reimburses employers/insurers when a pre-existing permanent partial disability combines with a new work injury
Scope: Covers 34 presumptively qualifying pre-existing conditions (e.g., amputation, diabetes, heart disease, seizure disorder, blindness, multiple sclerosis). Employer must prove actual knowledge of the pre-existing disability before the second injury (prior comp claim, employee disclosure, registry, or affidavit). Weekly-benefit reimbursement begins after 104 weeks paid; medical reimbursement covers 100% of costs above $25,000. In 2025 the Fund reimbursed $57.25M on 973 claims, with 3,177 claims pending.
Recovery Structure
Medical treatment (typically unlimited), lost wages at 66⅔% of average weekly wage (AWW) subject to the state max/min, permanent impairment awards via the scheduled-member system or Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB) for unscheduled/wage-loss injuries, vocational rehab, death/survivor benefits, and a one-time $50,000 catastrophic-injury payment. No pain and suffering under WC (trade-off of exclusive remedy).
Key Louisiana Doctrines
Notice of Injury to Employer: Notice must reach the employer within 30 days of the accident or death, or the claim can be barred. Second Injury Fund: State-run fund reimburses employers/insurers when a pre-existing permanent partial disability combines with a new work injury, encouraging employers to hire and retain workers with disabilities.
Damage Structure + Caps
Medical benefits (usually full), lost wage replacement (66⅔% up to $903/wk max, $241/wk min for Sept 2026-Aug 2027), SEB capped at 520 weeks with a monthly cap of 4.3x the TTD rate, permanent disability award via scheduled-member weeks, death benefits, and a $50,000 catastrophic-injury lump sum
Louisiana Workers' Compensation Verdicts + Averages
Recent Louisiana workers' compensation benefits outcomes:
| Amount | Year | Case / Injury |
|---|---|---|
| $640K | 2025 | Workers' comp settlement — cervical and lumbar spine injury, hip tendinosis, headaches (Lafayette) — Cervical/lumbar spine, hip |
| $550K | 2025 | Workers' comp settlement (Baton Rouge) — Unspecified — listed as workers' comp settlement |
| $300K | 2025 | Workers' comp settlement — aggravated degenerative disc disease, lower back, lost wages (New Orleans) — Lower back, aggravated degenerative disc disease |
Louisiana Workers' Compensation FAQs
What is the maximum weekly workers' comp benefit in Louisiana for 2026?
For claimants injured September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027, Louisiana's maximum weekly compensation is $903 — 75% of the $1,204.02 statewide average weekly wage set by the Louisiana Workforce Commission (La. R.S. 23:1202). The minimum is $241/week. For injuries in the prior period (Sept 1, 2025-Aug 31, 2026), the max was $877/week and the min was $234/week. Your actual benefit equals 66⅔% of your average weekly wage, capped at these limits.
How long do I have to report my injury and file a workers' comp claim in Louisiana?
You must give your employer notice of the injury within 30 days of the accident (La. R.S. 23:1301). Separately, a formal claim must be filed within 1 year of the accident (La. R.S. 23:1209) — extended to 3 years for delayed-onset/developing injuries and for disputes over Supplemental Earnings Benefits under R.S. 23:1221(3). If benefits have already been paid, the 1-year clock restarts from the date of the last payment.
Can I sue my employer in Louisiana in addition to workers' comp?
Generally NO — under La. R.S. 23:1032, workers' comp is your exclusive remedy against your employer, and Louisiana bars any 'dual capacity' theory to get around it. The narrow exception is an 'intentional act' by the employer. Third-party claims against non-employer defendants (e.g., equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, motorists) remain available and often run parallel to a comp claim.
What are Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB) in Louisiana workers' comp?
SEB apply when your injury reduces your earning capacity below 90% of your pre-injury wages but you're not totally disabled. You receive 66⅔% of the difference between your pre-injury and post-injury earning capacity, subject to a monthly cap of 4.3x the TTD weekly rate (La. R.S. 23:1221(3)). SEB can run up to 520 weeks, but stop if you go 2 years without receiving at least 13 consecutive weeks of payments, or upon retirement (with 104 weeks guaranteed first).
How does a Louisiana workers' comp lump-sum settlement work?
Louisiana allows 'commutation' of future weekly payments into a lump sum under La. R.S. 23:1274 — the parties agree on a term, the amount is discounted at no more than 8% per year, and a workers' compensation judge must approve the settlement. Before accepting, get an independent medical evaluation and consult a workers' comp attorney — most work on contingency with fees regulated by Louisiana statute, and initial offers typically underestimate future medical needs and permanent impairment.
Pending Louisiana Workers' Compensation Issues
Active legal developments (as of April 2026):
- New max/min weekly compensation rate ($903/$241, based on AWW $1,204.02) takes effect September 1, 2026 per the LWC's published determination; the prior period (Sept 1, 2025-Aug 31, 2026, max $877/min $234, AWW $1,169.61) remains the controlling rate for injuries occurring before that date.
- The three landmark settlement figures ($640,000 / $550,000 / $300,000) come from law firms' 'Recent Results' pages as displayed in August 2026; the firms do not publish exact settlement dates, so 2025 is a reasonable estimate rather than a confirmed date.
- Second Injury Fund reimbursement figures ($57.25M / 973 claims / 3,177 pending, 2025) are sourced from a third-party SIF-service summary (readysif.com) citing LWC data, not independently cross-checked against a primary LWC annual report.
- Louisiana's employer-coverage threshold (whether all employers regardless of size must carry coverage, per R.S. 23:1035) has not been independently confirmed as of August 2026 — repeated access failures — and is therefore omitted from key_statutes.
- The standard workers' comp waiting period before TTD benefits begin (commonly cited elsewhere as 7 days, with retroactivity after 6 weeks of disability under R.S. 23:1224) has not been confirmed against primary statutory text in this pass and is intentionally left out of the content below.
Informational only — consult a licensed attorney for case-specific advice.
Primary Sources
- law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/revised-statutes/title-23/rs-23-1202
- law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/revised-statutes/title-23/rs-23-1221
- law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/revised-statutes/title-23/rs-23-1032
- law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/revised-statutes/title-23/rs-23-1209
- law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/revised-statutes/title-23/rs-23-1301
- www.laworks.net/Downloads/OWC/AvgWage_MinMaxRates.pdf
- www.laworks.net/Downloads/OWC/WC_Potpourri_20250710.pdf
- readysif.com/louisiana-second-injury-fund
- www.morrisbart.com/results
- www.dudleydebosier.com/workers-compensation-lawyers
Other State Workers' Compensation Calculators
Washington
L&I state fund + self-insure, PPD dollar-amount schedule, $2,303.31/wk equiv
California
SIBTF reform 2026, $1,764/wk max, QME + SB 636
New York
$1,281.50/wk max, LWEC non-schedule PPD, 2025 Protection in Workplace Act
Texas
Non-subscriber option, $1,271/wk, IBR
Illinois
Lifetime uncapped medical, $2,045.63/wk (2026)
Florida
$1,358/wk, 104-week TTD cap, narrow catastrophic definition
Michigan
PIWEC phantom wages, 80% after-tax AWW, $1,201/wk max 2026
New Jersey
Second Injury Fund, 400/450-wk caps, $1,199/wk max 2026
Ohio
BWC monopoly fund, Industrial Commission PTD, $1,281/wk
Pennsylvania
Act 111 (2017), 500-wk partial cap, $1,394/wk max 2026
Alabama
Max $1,219/wk TTD, but non-scheduled PPD (back injuries) capped at just $220/wk
Arizona
$6,131/mo max AMW (66⅔% TTD/PTD), PPD paid in months not weeks
Colorado
Competitive state fund, $1,464/wk max (91% SAWW), 4-day notice deadline
Connecticut
Max $1,716/wk (2026), 28-day contest deadline, SIF closed since 1995
Georgia
Exclusive remedy, $800/wk TTD cap, catastrophic designation unlocks lifetime benefits
Iowa
80% spendable earnings, $2,431/wk max, active Second Injury Fund
Indiana
$877/wk max (66⅔% AWW), 8-day wait, Second Injury Fund
Kentucky
Impairment-factor PPD formula, $1,277.99/wk max, coal black-lung claims
Massachusetts
Opt-out exclusive remedy, $1,922/wk max rate, PPD paid in statewide-wage multiples
Maryland
Exclusive remedy, $1,537/wk max (2026), Uninsured Employers' Fund safety net
Minnesota
Private-carrier market, $1,536.84/wk max, PTSD presumption for first responders
Missouri
Strict-construction state, TTD/PTD capped 105% SAWW, PPD capped 55% SAWW
North Carolina
500-week TTD/PPD cap, $1,446/wk max (2026), 66 2/3% AWW
Oklahoma
TTD/PTD capped at $1,128.66/wk, opt-out struck down, Multiple Injury Trust Fund
Oregon
3-way market (SAIF+private+self-insure), $1,943/wk max, CDA keeps medical open
South Carolina
Exclusive remedy, $1,189.94/wk max (2026), 500-wk TTD cap, lifetime for TBI/spinal
Tennessee
$1,488.30/wk max (FY26-27), 15-day notice, PPD = rating × 450 wks, no jury trials
Virginia
500-week comp cap (PTD lifetime), $1,507/wk max, 66 2/3% AWW
Wisconsin
Dual-track cap: $1,375/wk TTD (110% SAWW) vs just $454/wk PPD; 6/12-yr SOL
Alaska
PPI = $273K × WPI%, TTD/PTD 80% of wage, max $1,627/wk (2026)
Arkansas
Max $953/wk (85% SAWW), odd-lot doctrine barred, 450-wk wage-loss cap
Washington DC
Max $1,852.07/wk (Jan 2025), 30-day notice, LHWCA-style weeks-based PPD schedule
Delaware
Max $962.72/wk (2026), 90-day notice, Medicare-based HCPS fee caps
Hawaii
66⅔% AWW, $1,240/wk max (2026), Special Compensation Fund after 104wks
Idaho
Max $1,021.50/wk (90% ASW), 500-week whole man, ISIF second-injury fund
Kansas
$905/wk max TTD/PTD, 415-wk PPD cap, SB 430 (2024) raised PTD cap $155K→$400K
Maine
Max $1,561/wk (125% of SAWW), 7-day wait, no statutory minimum, exclusive remedy
Mississippi
Max $654.63/wk, 5-day wait, Second Injury Trust Fund
Montana
$1,192/wk max, 400-week PPD formula, 60-mo medical closure
North Dakota
Monopolistic state fund (WSI), $1,614/wk max, no private insurance or self-insurance
Nebraska
Max $1,166/wk (2026), Espinoza multi-member LOEC rule, exclusive remedy
New Hampshire
$2,309/wk cap (150% SAWW); Second Injury Fund; 3-yr claim filing deadline
New Mexico
100% SAWW cap, $1,146.66/wk max, $36/wk min since 1975
Nevada
Privatized market, monthly PPD annuity (0.6%/1% WPI), max $5,691.79/mo (FY27)
Rhode Island
62% AWW formula, $1,622/wk max, dedicated Workers' Compensation Court
South Dakota
No insurance mandate • $1,152/wk max (2026) • Subsequent Injury Fund repealed 1999
Utah
Max $1,376/wk (2026), 6-yr/12-yr filing window, narrow intentional-injury exception
Vermont
Max $1,914/wk (2026), 6-mo. filing deadline, whole-person PPD schedule
West Virginia
Deliberate-intent exception, $1,150.91/wk max, no punitive damages, privatized market
Wyoming
Monopolistic state fund, no private insurance; PTD capped at 80 months, not lifetime
Main Workers' Comp Calculator
Nationwide WC benefits overview
All Workers' Compensation Calculators by State
Other Calculators for Louisiana
Each Louisiana calculator reflects state-specific laws (caps, statutes of limitations, comparative-negligence rules) and uses Louisiana verdict data where available.