When a business dispute threatens what you’ve built, you need attorneys who are prepared to fight for you in court, not push you toward a quick settlement that leaves money on the table.
Combined experience
Trial Lost in Over 20 Years
Getting hurt on the job in Louisiana should mean your medical bills are covered and part of your lost wages are replaced. In practice, insurers often make that harder than it should be, with delays, denials, and disputes over what you are owed.
These problems are easier to fix early. Once deadlines pass or the record is set, your options narrow quickly. Talking to an attorney soon after an injury protects your claim.
At Melancon, Rimes & Daquanno, we guide injured workers through Louisiana’s workers’ compensation system from the first injury report to final resolution. One of our attorneys focuses specifically on workers’ compensation, so your claim is handled by someone who understands how Louisiana’s benefit rules, deadlines, and dispute process actually work, not a general practitioner learning as they go.
We treat every case as if it may end up before a workers’ compensation judge. If your employer’s insurer denies benefits or drags its feet, we are ready to challenge that decision through the dispute process. When someone other than your employer caused your injury, we can also pursue a separate personal injury claim for losses workers’ comp does not cover.
Workers’ compensation covers far more than a single on-the-job accident. We handle the full range of claims and disputes that come up when someone is hurt at work in Louisiana, from the initial filing to appeals of denied benefits.
Sudden accidents like falls, equipment injuries, and vehicle crashes that happen while you are performing your job duties.
Conditions that build up over time, such as repetitive stress injuries, from the physical demands of your work.
When the insurer refuses to approve the care, surgery, or specialist your treating physician recommends.
Pursuing temporary and permanent disability benefits based on how your injury affects your ability to earn a living.
Getting stalled or wrongfully rejected claims back on track through the state's dispute process.
Taking denied or underpaid claims before a workers' compensation judge when a fair resolution cannot be reached otherwise.
Not sure whether your situation qualifies? The clearest way to find out is a free consultation, where we review what happened and explain your options.
When your benefits and your health are on the line, experience and attention both matter. You get a partner-led team that treats your recovery as the priority, communicates clearly, and pushes for the full benefits Louisiana law allows.
At many firms, you are passed to junior staff. Here, our partners stay directly involved, so an experienced attorney knows your case and your name.
One of our attorneys concentrates specifically on Louisiana workers' compensation, so your claim is handled by someone who knows this area of law in depth.
We do not count on a quick settlement. Preparing each case for a hearing puts real pressure on insurers to treat your claim fairly.
Our attorneys have represented clients throughout greater Baton Rouge and know the local courts, employers, and industries where workplace injuries happen.
The workers’ compensation process has strict steps and deadlines. Here is the path most claims follow, and where having an attorney early makes the biggest difference.
Notify your employer in writing within 30 days. Prompt reporting protects your claim and starts the process on solid footing.
See a doctor and follow the recommended care. Your medical records become the backbone of your claim for benefits.
We prepare and file the required paperwork with the state, making sure it is complete and submitted within Louisiana's deadlines.
We handle communication with the insurer and push back on denials, delays, or approved treatment that falls short of your needs.
Many claims resolve through negotiation. If yours cannot, we take it before a workers' compensation judge.
You do not have to manage this alone or decode the paperwork on your own. We handle the filings, the deadlines, and the insurer so you can focus on getting better.
Payment for the doctor visits, surgery, medication, and therapy needed to treat your work-related injury.
Wage replacement benefits while you are temporarily unable to work at all as you recover and follow your treatment.
Support when you can return to lighter or reduced work during recovery but earn less than you did before the injury.
Benefits for a lasting impairment that affects part of your body or your earning capacity after you reach maximum recovery.
Long-term wage benefits when a severe, permanent injury prevents you from returning to any kind of gainful employment.
Our attorneys have handled some of the most complex commercial disputes in Louisiana. These results reflect what’s possible when you work with a firm that prepares every case for trial.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is evaluated on its own facts and circumstances.
Your first consultation is free, with no obligation. We will listen to what happened, review the details of your injury and claim, and give you a straight answer about your options and what we can do to help.
For injury claims like workers’ compensation, there is no upfront cost to hire us and no fee just to evaluate your case. Attorney fees for Louisiana workers’ compensation claims are governed by state law, and we will explain exactly how they work during your free consultation. Our goal is to put more in your pocket, not less.
"Great experience. They were very professional and were there whenever I called or needed them. My settlement was well worth the wait. I recommend them to anyone needing legal services. They will fight for you and get you what you deserve for your injuries. I didn't just gain good legal representation, I also gained friends and a law firm that cared."
"Great people who really care about your situation. They did everything possible to take care of my family. I would highly recommend Jason, Robert, and the whole team. Top notch."
 "I was referred to Melancon Rimes by a friend and I am beyond pleased with the outstanding professionalism and astounding work ethic that Lee Daquanno and his staff put into my case. Lee was prompt and kept me informed at every step. I would recommend him to anyone seeking legal help. Lee went above and beyond for me and I am extremely grateful for him during my time of need."
Melancon, Rimes & Daquanno is led by three partners with a strong record in and out of the courtroom. Jason Melancon and Robert Rimes founded the firm in 2005, and Lee Daquanno became a partner in 2022 after years with the practice in other roles. The partners handle cases directly across personal injury, workers’ compensation, and complex litigation, so clients work with seasoned attorneys rather than being passed down the line.
Jason co-founded the firm in 2005 and leads its trial work. He is admitted before Louisiana state courts, the federal district courts across the state, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is an active member of the Louisiana Association for Justice.
Robert co-founded the firm alongside Jason and leads its personal injury practice. He is admitted before Louisiana state courts and the federal district courts across the state, and he belongs to the Baton Rouge Bar Association. He has spent two decades handling injury and workers’ compensation claims for Louisiana families.
Lee worked with the firm from its founding in 2005 and became a partner in 2022. He manages cases day to day, which keeps medical records, filings, and hearing deadlines from slipping. He is admitted before Louisiana state courts and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
That depth matters in workers’ compensation, where insurers and their adjusters rely on the same tactics again and again. We know how to anticipate and counter them.
In most cases, you have one year from the date of your work accident to file a workers’ compensation claim in Louisiana, under La. R.S. 23:1209. If benefits were paid and then stopped, the one-year period generally runs from the date of the last payment. For injuries that develop over time, the deadline can run one year from when the injury develops, but no later than three years from the accident. Separately, you must report the injury to your employer within 30 days. Because these deadlines are strict and the details depend on your situation, it is best to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Report the injury to your employer as soon as you can, and always in writing, within 30 days. Get medical treatment promptly and tell the provider your injury is work related, so it is documented from the start. Keep copies of everything: the incident report, medical records, and any communication with your employer or the insurer. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan, since gaps in care give insurers a reason to question your claim. Then talk to a workers’ compensation attorney before giving a recorded statement or accepting any settlement, so you understand what your claim is actually worth.
Louisiana law prohibits your employer from firing or punishing you simply because you filed a workers’ compensation claim. If an employer retaliates against you for exercising your rights, you may have a separate legal claim against them. That said, these situations can be fact-specific, and employers do not always state the real reason for a firing. If you believe you were let go or demoted because of your claim, keep records of what happened and talk to an attorney. We can review the timeline and explain what protections apply to your situation.
Not every claim requires a lawyer, especially if your employer accepts the claim and pays your benefits without dispute. You may want one when your claim is denied, benefits are delayed or cut off, the insurer disputes your treatment, or you are being pushed back to work too soon. An attorney can also help make sure the benefits you are offered actually reflect your injury and lost earning capacity. At Melancon, Rimes & Daquanno, our consultations are free, so you can find out whether you need representation before committing to anything.
A denial is not the end of the road. In Louisiana, disputed claims go through the Office of Workers’ Compensation, which offers mediation before a formal hearing. If your claim was denied or your benefits were stopped, we can file the dispute, gather the medical and employment evidence needed to support it, and represent you before a workers’ compensation judge if the case cannot be resolved sooner. Insurers sometimes deny valid claims hoping you will not push back. Having an attorney signals that you are prepared to see the process through.
Usually you cannot sue your own employer for a workplace injury, because workers’ compensation is generally your exclusive remedy against them. But if someone other than your employer contributed to your injury, such as a negligent driver, a property owner, or a product manufacturer, you may be able to bring a separate personal injury claim against that third party. A personal injury claim can cover losses workers’ comp does not, including pain and suffering. We handle both, so we can look at whether a third-party claim makes sense alongside your workers’ compensation benefits.
We represent injured workers in Zachary and throughout the greater Baton Rouge region. If you were hurt on the job anywhere in the parishes and communities below, we can help you pursue your workers’ compensation claim. Not sure if we cover your area? Just ask.
Baton Rouge | Port Allen | Denham Springs | St. George | Central | Baker | Zachary | Plaquemine | St. Gabriel | Addis | Brusly | Shenandoah | Village St. George | Oak Hills Place | Inniswold | Gardere Place
Workplace injuries happen everywhere, from construction sites and warehouses to offices and roadways. Wherever you were hurt in the Baton Rouge area, we are ready to help you move your claim forward.
Hurt on the job in Zachary? Get a free consultation and find out what your claim is worth.
Hours:
Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 4:30pm; Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm