How much a Louisiana workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Louisiana settlements run roughly 20000 to 75000 for many claims, with minor injuries settling for a few thousand and severe/surgical or amputation cases reaching well into six figures — every case differs and depends on the specific facts.
This guide lays out the Louisiana caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Louisiana sources, verified as of June 2026.
Louisiana at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 66.67% (two-thirds of average weekly wage) |
| Max weekly benefit | $877 |
| Min weekly benefit | $234 |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| PPD method | Combination — a statutory scheduled-member loss/loss-of-physical-function schedule for catastrophic anatomical loss (RS 23:1221(4)), plus wage-loss-based Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB) for reduced earning capacity; Louisiana does NOT use a general impairment-rating-times-weeks formula for most claims |
| Lawyer recommended | For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer |
In This Louisiana Guide:
How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in Louisiana?
How much a Louisiana workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Louisiana settlements run roughly 20000 to 75000 for many claims, with minor injuries settling for a few thousand and severe/surgical or amputation cases reaching well into six figures — every case differs and depends on the specific facts.
This guide lays out the Louisiana caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Louisiana sources, verified as of June 2026.
Want a quick estimate for your own injury?
Louisiana Body-Part Settlement Values
If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, Louisiana assigns it a set number of weeks of benefits. Your payout is roughly those weeks multiplied by your impairment rating and your weekly comp rate. Here are the Louisiana figures:
| Body part (scheduled loss) | Statutory weeks of benefits |
| Arm | 200 weeks |
| Hand | 150 weeks |
| Leg | 175 weeks |
| Foot | 125 weeks |
| Eye | 100 weeks |
| Thumb | 50 weeks |
| Index (First) Finger | 30 weeks |
| Other Finger | 20 weeks |
| Big Toe | 20 weeks |
| Other Toe | 10 weeks |
Whole-body / maximum: up to 200 (scheduled-member maximum, for loss of an arm); a residual loss-of-physical-function award not otherwise scheduled is capped at 100 weeks under RS 23:1221(4)(p); SEB wage-loss benefits run up to 520 weeks weeks.
How Louisiana Calculates Your Payout
Weekly rate = 66 2/3% of the worker’s average weekly wage (AWW), subject to the statewide maximum of 877 and minimum of 234 in effect for injuries on/after September 1, 2025; the rate is locked to the date of injury
Permanent disability: Combination — a statutory scheduled-member loss/loss-of-physical-function schedule for catastrophic anatomical loss (RS 23:1221(4)), plus wage-loss-based Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB) for reduced earning capacity; Louisiana does NOT use a general impairment-rating-times-weeks formula for most claims
Offsets: Yes — Louisiana allows offsets/credits under RS 23:1225, including a reduction for Social Security old-age (retirement) benefits and coordination with employer-funded disability/retirement benefits
What Settlements Actually Run in Louisiana
roughly 20000 to 75000 for many claims, with minor injuries settling for a few thousand and severe/surgical or amputation cases reaching well into six figures — every case differs and depends on the specific facts That said, no two cases are alike — the number that matters is the one your own injury, rating, and wage produce, not a statewide average.
What drives a Louisiana settlement: body part injured, impairment/disability rating, the worker’s average weekly wage, projected future medical care, and ability to return to work (residual earning capacity driving SEB)
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in Louisiana
A Louisiana workers comp settlement usually has two parts: the wage benefits you are paid while you cannot work, and a lump sum for any permanent damage the injury leaves behind. The wage piece replaces a share of your average weekly wage, up to the state cap shown above.
The permanent piece is where most of the settlement value lives, and it depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and how the state values that loss.
Scheduled vs. Unscheduled Injuries in Louisiana
Most states, including how Louisiana handles many claims, divide permanent injuries into two buckets. A scheduled loss is a specific body part with a set number of weeks assigned to it, like an arm, hand, or leg. An unscheduled loss affects the body as a whole, like a back or a head injury, and is often worth more because it touches your overall ability to earn.
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Knowing which bucket your injury falls into is the first step to understanding what your case may be worth.
Other Louisiana settlement rules: Louisiana leans heavily on Supplemental Earnings Benefits (SEB) rather than a broad scheduled PPD system — SEB pays two-thirds of the difference between pre-injury AWW and what the worker can now earn, up to 520 weeks. Most settlements are voluntary lump-sum “compromise” settlements that must be approved by an OWC workers’ compensation judge.
Maximum/minimum weekly rates adjust every September 1; the figures above (877 max / 234 min) apply to injuries on or after September 1, 2025
Understanding Your Louisiana Workers Comp Settlement
The size of a Louisiana workers comp settlement is not random — it follows the state’s own formula. Your average weekly wage sets your benefit rate, the body part and impairment rating set the number of weeks, and the state cap sets the ceiling. Put together, those pieces are what a Louisiana workers comp settlement is built from.
If any part of your Louisiana workers comp settlement is unclear, the calculator below gives a quick estimate and your state board can confirm the current caps and the body-part schedule.
Got a settlement offer? Before you accept, it helps to know what your Louisiana case may really be worth. An attorney can review the offer, often at no upfront cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a workers’ comp settlement in Louisiana?
There is no single average — a Louisiana settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Typical ranges run roughly 20000 to 75000 for many claims, with minor injuries settling for a few thousand and severe/surgical or amputation cases reaching well into six figures — every case differs and depends on the specific facts.
Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.
How is a Louisiana workers’ comp settlement calculated?
Louisiana generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $877/week), then adds a permanent-disability amount based on the body part and your impairment rating. The state’s body-part schedule sets the number of weeks.
Do I need a lawyer to settle my Louisiana workers’ comp case?
Not always, but for a serious injury, a denied claim, or a settlement offer you are unsure about, many claimants talk to a workers’ comp attorney first — the consultation is usually free and represented claimants often recover more.
Official Louisiana Sources & Resources
- Louisiana Louisiana Workforce Commission — Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration (OWCA): https://www.laworks.net/WorkersComp/OWC_MainMenu.asp
- Louisiana Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=83447
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- NCCI (rating/benefit data): ncci.com
These Louisiana workers comp settlement figures were last verified against official sources in June 2026. State benefit caps change every year — confirm the current figure with your state workers’-comp board or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.
More Louisiana Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File a Louisiana Workers’ Comp Claim
- Louisiana Workers’ Comp Requirements (Employers)
- Workers’ Comp Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm or insurer. Workers’ comp benefits, settlement values, deadlines, and requirements vary by state and by the specific facts of your injury and change over time, and any settlement figures here are illustrative only.
Confirm your rights and any deadline with your state’s workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.