Posts

Q: My left hand was crushed when a pallet fell on it at work. Treatment is concluded, and the Department recently issued an order closing my claim and paying me a percentage of impairment for the two fingers that had to be amputated. The rating appears to be small. How are they supposed to rate disability? A: When an injury is […]

Q: I sustained a severe burn on my hand at work. I was able to return to work, but I am not able to do all the things I could previously do. I am done with my treatment. What happens next? A: Once treatment has achieved a point where nothing more can be done to cure the problem, the Department of […]

Q: I sustained severe burns to my face and neck when a chemical splashed on me at work. I am now done with treatment. The Department closed my claim because they say I am not entitled to permanent partial disability because they are not responsible for cosmetic damage. Is this true? A: Under Washington’s Industrial Insurance Act, permanent partial disability is […]

Q: I recently went to a panel of doctors, at the request of the Department of Labor and Industries, for an examination. My claims manager tells me that the panel has rated my disability as a “Category 2″. What does this mean? A: When an injured worker reaches a point where there is no further curative treatment that will benefit them, […]