I waited to treat PTSD after my Monroe work injury, did I ruin it?

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$15,000 to $75,000 is a common Louisiana settlement range when PTSD, anxiety, or depression follows a documented physical injury, with stronger cases going higher. So no, waiting did not automatically ruin your case. What should have happened first: after a work injury in Monroe, the accident should have been reported to the employer within 30 days under Louisiana workers' comp rules. The physical injury should have been documented right away, and the mental health symptoms should have been tied to that injury as soon as they showed up. For a Louisiana workers' comp claim, a mental injury caused by a physical injury can be covered, but it must usually be proven by clear and convincing evidence and diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. &#34;I tried to tough it out&#34; is common, especially in hospitals and schools, but insurers love gaps in treatment because they argue stress came from bills, family pressure, or tax-season debt instead. What to do now: get evaluated now by a psychiatrist or psychologist, not just a primary care visit that notes &#34;anxious.&#34; Tell them exactly when symptoms started: panic, nightmares, avoiding certain hallways, crying spells, sleep problems, driving fear, whatever it is. If the injury happened at work, ask for mental health treatment to be authorized through workers' comp. Keep: ER and follow-up records from places like St. Francis Medical Center or Ochsner LSU Health Monroe prescription records missed-shift records coworker or family observations mileage and out-of-pocket treatment costs every insurance or lien notice What comes next: the insurer will likely focus on the treatment gap. The fix is a clean timeline from your doctor explaining why delayed treatment is still medically consistent with trauma. If benefits are denied, a disputed claim is filed with the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Office of Workers' Compensation. The filing deadline is often one year from the accident or from the last payment of benefits, depending on what has happened already. If a third party caused the injury, Louisiana injury deadlines may also apply, and for many newer claims that deadline is two years.