Frequently Asked Questions

At trial, the attorneys for each side present evidence and arguments and the judge or jury decides the unresolved issues. Once the judge or jury has reached a decision, the judge will order that Judgment be entered for the side who wins.

It is likely that your personal injury claim will reach a negotiated settlement, so a lawsuit is never filed. If the case cannot be resolved, however, you have the option of filing a lawsuit and your attorney will explain the steps in the legal process. This is what happens when you file a lawsuit: Your […]

Collision victims are entitled to recover monetary damages for all losses and expenses suffered from the collision. Depending upon the particular circumstances of your case, damages may include recovery for any of the following: Disfigurement Emotional Trauma Lost Wages, Including Overtime Medical bills Mental Disability Pain and Suffering Physical Disability Property Damage

We work with you on your case, we will contact the insurance companies and determine what coverage and benefits are available to you. This may also involve working with Medicare, L&I, DSHS and other agencies to be sure that you continue to receive appropriate payments. Once all available insurance coverages and other benefits have been […]

When personal injury strikes, there are a number of things you should and shouldn’t do to protect your rights. You want to be sure you are covered and compensated for all the damages, both personal and emotional, that you have suffered. Most importantly, you should follow these key rules: Be careful what you say to […]

Personal Injury is any physical or mental injury to a person that results from another person’s careless or harmful act. Personal injury can occur in a wide variety of ways. The following are some of the most common: Animal Attacks Car Collisions Insurance Bad Faith Insurance Fair Claims Act violations Slip and Fall Accidents/Premise Liability

A contingency fee is an industry standard fee that is applied to personal injury cases and is dependent upon the successful resolution of your case. A contingency fee is a percentage of the monetary recovery obtained by an attorney on a client’s behalf and is only paid if and when an attorney is successful in obtaining monetary recovery, whether through settlement or litigation. The industry-standard contingency fee is about one-third of the awarded settlement.

Many work-related injury claims are processed with no difficulty and an attorney is not necessary. If your claim is allowed and time-loss compensation is paid promptly using correct wage information, you should focus on your medical treatment and follow your doctor’s recommendations about returning to work. However, if a dispute or conflict develops about your […]

You can apply to reopen the claim. Pick up an application to reopen your claim from your medical provider or from the Department. A claim will be reopened if medical evidence shows that your job-related condition has objectively worsened since the date of claim closure. You will be eligible for full benefits if your claim […]

Your claim will be closed when your treatment is concluded, your medical condition is at maximum medical improvement and you are able to return to some type of employment. If your injury or disease has resulted in a permanent disability or impairment, you will receive a monetary permanent partial disability award at the time your […]

If you still disagree with the new Order, you must file a written appeal with the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (see Resource List.) The BIIA is a separate state agency charged with resolving disputes that may develop in work-related injury claims. Information about the appeal process in general, or your rights, can be obtained […]

When a decision is made about your claim, either the Department or your self-insured employer will issue an Order. All Orders have specific information which explains your right to protest or appeal the decision if you do not agree. If you want to protest or appeal a decision, you must do it in writing within […]

Many benefits are available. Numbers 1-8 are mandatory; number 9 is a discretionary benefit which the state or employer can choose to offer. Medical Treatment – Proper and necessary medical care will be provided for your job-related injury or disease, including necessary prescription medications. You may choose your medical provider, who may refer you to […]

You have one (1) year from the date of your accident to file an application for benefits to open your claim. Applications for occupational disease claims must be filed within two (2) years of learning you have a work-related disease. The application has a section for you to complete and a portion for your doctor […]

You are responsible for giving your employer notice of your injury or illness and you must file an Application for Benefits to open a claim. You should notify your employer when you suffer an on-the-job injury or illness. Many employers, however, do not notify the Department of Labor and Industries of injuries to their workers. […]

To receive workers’ compensation benefits, you must be a covered employee, acting in the course of employment, who has sustained an injury or occupational disease. Definitions “A covered employee” — The law recognizes there are hazards in all jobs, so workers’ compensation coverage is almost always required. Generally, if you are an employee, not an […]

Workers’ Compensation, or Industrial Insurance, is a system to provide basic benefits to people injured on the job. The goal of the law is to provide sure and certain benefits to reduce the physical and economic suffering of people injured on the job. Compensation is provided for employees injured on the job regardless of who […]

What follows are some commonly asked questions regarding workers’ compensation issues and general answers to those questions. Each situation is different. This is not intended to be a substitute for obtaining legal advice with respect to your specific situation.