Posts

Finding a Medical Provider that is Approved by Labor & Industries

For injured workers, the rules have changed in who can provide treatment. In the past, an injured worker could choose any doctor. Whether the worker was compensated for their travel expense was sometimes an issue for workers but so long as the medical provider (doctor, PAC, ARNP, psychologist, for example) had a provider number from the Department of Labor and […]

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Vocational Retraining by the Department of Labor & Industries

I often get phone calls from potential clients who are trying to understand what the Department of Labor and Industries, or the assigned vocational counselor, is doing when a plan for vocational retraining is being proposed. Their rights and responsibilities and their options, specifically a right to “opt out” of vocational services is truly a pressured and confusing moment in […]

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How long do I have to settle my personal injury claim or file a lawsuit?

The statute of limitations is the period of time during which a legal action must be started (filing a lawsuit). In Washington, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years, typically starting on the date of the injury. Even though a person injured by the negligence of another has three years to settle their claim or […]

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Who’s paying my medical bills?

Have you been injured by the negligence of another person, such as in a car accident? Did you go to the emergency room or to your regular doctor for medical attention? Have you continued receive treatment for those injuries? You may think that the insurance company for the negligent person will be paying your medical bills due to the accident… […]

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Getting Your Claim Reopened for Worsening Injuries or Conditions

Last month I wrote about the basics of getting a claim reopened after a closing order has become final. The statute of limitations for doing so, as I pointed out in that article, is seven years from the date of the first, final closing order. But the question arises: what is the legal basis for getting a claim reopened? The […]

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Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Post-Injury Disabilities: A Case Study

If you are disabled by many causes, or disabled from working due to causes not related to your work injury, such as cancer, an illness, or an injury when not working, you may still be entitled to Full Worker’s Compensation Disability Benefits. Recently, our firm represented a man who was hurt at work, and suffered many limitations because of his […]

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Were You Hurt Prior to your Workers’ Compensation Injury?

If you were hurt prior to your industrial injury (another name for a Worker’s Compensation Injury), the Department of Labor and Industries must take that into consideration when deciding if you are disabled. The State of Washington has strong rights, and strong legislation that protects the disabled. Sometimes the Department of Labor and Industries may neglect to follow those rights. […]

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Take Time To Listen and Observe

I had an interesting situation yesterday.  I had 2 men come in to meet with an attorney for a scheduled appointment.  I assumed the appointment was for the man who was visibly limping into the office appearing to be suffering from obvious leg pain.  Upon their departure, I was asked to schedule another appointment for him the following week.  I […]

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Post-Termination Injuries and Workers’ Compensation Claims

Washington State law states that an injury that happens while the person is acting in the course of employment is a covered injury and it is not necessary that the worker is performing their assigned work task. But what happens if a worker is fired and, in the process of departing, sustains an injury post-termination? Is the worker still covered […]

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