(A) When the incapacity for work resulting from an injury is total, the employer shall pay, or cause to be paid, as provided in this chapter, to the injured employee during the total disability a weekly compensation equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent of his average weekly wages, but not less than seventy-five dollars a week so long as this amount does not exceed his average weekly salary; if this amount does exceed his average weekly salary, the injured employee may not be paid, each week, less than his average weekly salary. The injured employee may not be paid more each week than the average weekly wage in this State for the preceding fiscal year. In no case may the period covered by the compensation exceed five hundred weeks except as provided in subsection (C).

(B) The loss of both hands, arms, shoulders, feet, legs, hips, or vision in both eyes, or any two thereof, constitutes total and permanent disability to be compensated according to the provisions of this section.

(C) Notwithstanding the five-hundred-week limitation prescribed in this section or elsewhere in this title, any person determined to be totally and permanently disabled who as a result of a compensable injury is a paraplegic, a quadriplegic, or who has suffered physical brain damage is not subject to the five-hundred-week limitation and shall receive the benefits for life.

(D) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 42-9-301, no total lump sum payment may be ordered by the commission in any case under this section where the injured person is entitled to lifetime benefits.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 72-151; 1952 Code Section 72-151; 1942 Code Sections 7035-32, 7035-34; 1936 (39) 1231; 1937 (40) 613; 1941 (42) 221; 1953 (48) 103; 1966 (54) 2753; 1972 (57) 2339; 1974 (58) 2265; 1976 Act No. 532 Section 3; 1978 Act No. 500 Section 1; 1984 Act No. 417; 1986 Act No. 389, eff April 29, 1986; 2007 Act No. 111, Pt I, Section 17, eff July 1, 2007, applicable to injuries that occur on or after that date.