Accidents, unfortunately, occur at work. When they do, it is important for you to follow the procedures correctly to preserve your rights.

You’ll need to find out whether your employer is self-insured. If they aren’t, your claim will be handled by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). Hence, the term L&I claim.

Take care of yourself first. Get adequate medical attention, inform your employer of the accident/illness, and file a claim.  Complete all the required paperwork thoroughly. And co-operate with requests for an independent medical exam.

The steps you take are important for your health and for preserving your rights. You’ll find specific recommendations in this article covering on-the-job-injuries.

Claims can often be approved and settled relatively easily provided that your doctor certifies that you were injured at work, or that you have an occupational disease.

The settlement benefits should cover all the relevant medical bills, and may also replace your missed wages and the money you had to spend preparing to return to work.  If you’ve been severely injured/disabled, settlement may include a permanent partial disability award, or a monthly pension.

Claims can also be rejected.  This may happen if the doctor is unable to clearly state that the accident or illness is directly related to the work environment.  In this case, the L&I manager must further investigate the worker’s medical and job history and the background information pertaining to the incident.

Your rights as an injured worker are governed through a set of laws and regulations enacted by the State of Washington. They can get complex. If you’re concerned about following them correctly and preserving your rights, an experienced attorney can help.

For a free phone consultation on your case and circumstances, call me at (888) 714-6221.

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Our law office has been serving the community for more than 50 years, and our knowledgeable team is well versed in matters concerning Workers’ Compensation.

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An on-the-job injury can be truly frightening beyond just the medical aspects. You may wonder how it will affect your current job and what will happen if you are unable to return to work. You have rights as an injured worker and your employer has certain responsibilities. Here are some things that you should do to ensure you are protected.

#1 You Must Report the Injury

Even if you feel the injury is minor, you need to report it. In most cases, your employer will have strict policies regarding how long you have to make a report of an injury on-the-job. Reporting an injury, no matter how minor, ensures protection from someone stating that it didn’t happen at work.

#2 You Must Follow the Doctor’s Orders

One of the most common mistakes people make is telling the doctor that they want to return to work, even when the doctor advises against it. If your doctor tells you that you need to spend some more time off, listen to him. The same goes for a work restriction. Not only do you risk injuring yourself further, you could find this decision costs you a lot later on.

#3 You Should Seek Another Doctor’s Care if You’re Not Getting Better

You don’t have to continue to see the company’s doctor if you feel the treatment is not working. In fact, you can see your own doctor as long as you let your employer and the company doctor know. Your new doctor is required to file a “Doctor’s First Report” with the insurance company about your condition.

#4 You Cannot Be Fired for Filing a Workers Compensation Claim

There are laws in place that prohibit an employer from firing an employee because they filed a workers compensation claim. The penalties for such actions can range from criminal to civil. You also cannot be kept from filing a claim for benefits.

You Should Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

An experienced attorney will be able to help you understand your rights. They can file the required paperwork on your behalf and deal with the insurance companies. The insurance companies have many attorneys working on their side. Make sure you have someone on your side, as well.

For a free consultation on your case and circumstances, call me at (888) 714-6221.

Labor and Industry claims, which are often referred to as workers compensation claims, cover the medical expenses that arise from an injury at work. About two-thirds of all employees in Washington state are covered by L & I. The other third work for self-insured employers. What difference does that make for the injured employee?

For those employees that are covered under workers compensation or L & I, their medical bills will be paid for by workers compensation. If an employer is considered self-insured, then the employer is required to pay for medical bills.  However, there is a lot more to consider than just medical bills.

Know Your Rights Regarding L & I Claims

If you are injured on-the-job, the first thing you need to do is seek medical help. Once you are able, you’ll need to complete the injury report with your employer. Most employers have a policy in place regarding on-the-job injuries. Follow this policy. If your employer has a company doctor that they want you to see, then you should see them. If you aren’t happy with the treatment or care you receive, you can change physicians.

Your claim will be processed and you will receive information in the mail about your claim. This includes information on wage replacement benefits. If your claim is denied for some reason, then you will receive a letter detailing why that decision was made.

If your benefits are denied or if you have questions or concerns, it’s best to contact a personal injury attorney that specializes in L & I cases. If your employer is self-insured and you are severely injured, you or a member of your family should speak with an attorney as soon as possible about your options. You want to make sure you are taken care of financially, as well as with the proper medical treatment.

A Few Final Thoughts

You may be concerned about what happens if you are not able to return to work. A permanent disability resulting from your injury can affect your entire family. You have rights as an injured worker. These rights are afforded to you through a complex set of laws and regulations. An experienced attorney will be able to help you wade through the paperwork and the fine print.

For a free consultation on your case and circumstances, call me at (888) 714-6221.

An accident is described as something unexpected that causes damage or injury. When it comes to job accidents, it’s certainly nothing that is ever expected. However, with over a million on-the-job accidents each year, the odds are likely that someone you work with, or even yourself, will have an on-the-job injury at some point during your time there. There are policies in place by employers to help minimize the chance of injuries. There are also policies in place that specifically lay out what happens after an on-the-job injury.

Follow the Reporting Procedures

If you are injured, no matter how minor it may be, you need to report it to your employer. In many cases, you may have problems days or even weeks later from what seemed like a minor injury. If you don’t make the report when the injury happened, then it’s easy for your employer to say that it didn’t happen at work. If your employer can prove this, you will not be eligible for workers compensation benefits.

Make Your Doctor’s Appointments

You need to make your doctor’s appointments. This includes follow up appointments and treatments, such as physical therapy. You want to ensure you follow your doctor’s instructions regarding what you should and should not do. If your doctor tells you to remain off work for another couple of weeks, it’s really in your best interest to do so. The same goes for any work restrictions he may give you, such as for lifting or standing for long periods of time. While your employer may not be very happy about any of it, they cannot make you perform any work that you haven’t been cleared to do.

Keep Your Paperwork

It’s best to keep a record of all paperwork associated with your claim. This is important in case you need to refer to them later. If you speak with an attorney at any point in the process, you’ll want to provide this paperwork to the attorney as well.

Speak with an Experienced Attorney

If you believe your rights are not foremost in your employer’s mind, then it’s time to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. A job accident can be difficult enough without having to worry about how the bills will be paid or what happens if you can’t return to work. Make sure you understand the rights afforded to you by law and that you have options in your case, as well.