Olympia Workers Compensation Lawyers

Employers need to keep their workers safe. When accidents happen on the job, employees deserve to have their medical bills and losses covered. From office staff to warehouse workers, employees can experience injuries due to a lack of training, inadequate personal protective equipment, defective machinery, and other negligent practices by companies. When this happens, workers can lose time and money, with injuries quickly becoming a burden on their whole lives.

If this sounds like your situation, you need to find Olympia workers’ compensation lawyers to help advocate for your best interests. Since 1980, the law firm of Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey has supported workers in Thurston County in regaining their lives after personal injury. Contact our Olympia workers compensation lawyers today to learn more about your rights to a safe work environment.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation Laws in Olympia, WA

Washington State’s workers’ compensation system encompasses a range of injuries and illnesses that occur while you are working. It covers sudden events like an injury from falling off a ladder or from a collision with a forklift, as well as longer exposure issues like respiratory illnesses caused by inhaling chemicals without proper respirator gear or repetitive stress injuries.

You may be covered by workers’ comp if you were injured during the course of everyday work, completing a required job-related task off-site, or even during travel. Some common examples of workers’ compensation incidents our attorneys see include:

Repeat strains and sprains are common among the technology sector, manufacturing, and government office employees
Falls from heights or being hit by falling objects are common in the construction industry
Machinery accidents causing crush or pinch injuries are common in advanced manufacturing and industrial industries
Burns from spilled oil and slips and falls are common in the food sector, among others
Injuries caused by working on commercial fishing vessels due to hauling heavy nets, working with heavy machinery, and falling overboard
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common for first responders

Under RCW 51.28.050, workers’ compensation is generally required for companies with one or more full or part-time employees. Sole proprietors, partners, corporate officers, and LLC members are generally excluded, but may choose to opt for workers’ compensation coverage electively. This law also requires reporting the injury as soon as possible to the state’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) via a claim form. We also handle self-insured workers’ compensation claims.

Eligibility for Workers’ Comp

Qualifying for workers’ compensation should be simple, but it often leads to more challenges than expected. The main qualifications to submit a request for compensation include:

The injury must have occurred while the worker was doing their job
The injured person must be an employee with coverage
The injured person must not be on the exempt occupations list, such as private household workers
The injury must not have occurred outside of working hours, while intoxicated, or in the process of committing a serious crime

A vital step to take when you are injured at work is to seek medical treatment immediately. Your company may have a specific medical professional that you are required to seek treatment from, so be sure to check with them for that information when you are reporting your injury.

How Our Olympia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Can Help You

When you are recovering from a work-related injury or illness, the last thing that you should have to worry about is the paperwork and deadlines of workers’ comp. Our workers’ compensation lawyers will work to build your claim, investigating all the details of your injury and documenting the supporting evidence. We can help you with:

Determining the type of claim you need to file
Gathering and documenting evidence supporting your claim
Collect a comprehensive evaluation of your injuries and required recovery
Submit all paperwork with accuracy and within the associated timeframes
Advocate with your company’s insurance provider for your claim
Negotiate the maximum compensation possible for your losses

If you sustained an illness or were injured at work, you need a lawyer to help you relentlessly advocate for your best interests. Our Olympia law firm is prepared to do the dirty work of negotiating with stingy insurance companies. If that fails, we will represent you in court.

Through every step of the way, we will make sure you are kept in the loop and understand what is happening so that you are prepared to make informed decisions about your future.

Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available

Ranging from slight injuries to serious, life-long illnesses, workers’ compensation covers a lot of ground. Understanding what your legal rights are as an injured employee is vital to the process, and working with a team of workers’ compensation attorneys may be beneficial. Some benefits you may be owed after a work accident or illness include:

Medical Benefits: Employees are entitled to compensation for qualifying medical treatments required to recover from a workplace injury or illness. This benefit should cover not just current expenses but also longer-term recovery and care.

Disability Compensation: If a person is unable to fully go back to work due to some remaining disability, this type of benefit may help cover limitations due to a workplace injury or occupational illness.

Expense Benefits: Out-of-pocket expenses associated with the workplace injury or illness may be covered by a workers’ comp claim, including travel costs, property damage, and other expenses.

Wage Loss Replacement: If an injury or illness precludes the employee from their typical work schedule, they may be entitled to recover some of their lost pay.

Vocational Retraining: If an employee is unable to fully recover from their injuries, they may need to work a different job. If the worker lacks the skills to apply for a different job, workers’ compensation could cover some training to get them into a position where they can continue to earn money.

Pension Benefits: If the worker is deemed permanently or totally disabled as a result of the illness or injury, typically necessitating a doctor’s evaluation, they may qualify for a pension, which provides a percentage of their salary prior to their injury or illness.

If a loved one dies from their workplace injury or illness, another potential benefit that may apply is death benefits. These benefits cover end-of-life medical bills, services, and burial costs, as well as pension benefits for the surviving family members who qualify as dependents.

Filing for Death Benefits for Families

When a work-related injury or occupational illness results in the immediate or prolonged death of a worker, Washington State Law allows specific benefits to eligible dependents. These benefits can cover expenses such as end-of-life hospital bills, funeral and burial costs, and pension benefits. There is also a one-time immediate payment representing the average monthly wage in Washington State.

To file for a workers’ compensation death benefits claim, a qualified beneficiary such as a spouse, registered domestic partner, or child must file with the Washington State L&I. Along with the claim, a copy of the marriage certificate, declaration of registered domestic partnership, or birth certificate for the dependent child must be provided for proof of qualified beneficiary. A copy of the death certificate must also be filed.

Death benefits through workers’ compensation are capped at a certain amount, but the family may also choose to file a wrongful death claim at the same time, if negligence or wrongful actions caused the death. Wrongful deaths can result from situations such as hazardous products or equipment, motor vehicle accidents, and dangerous conditions or exposure to hazardous materials in the workplace. Filing a wrongful death claim against a third party has no limit on compensation and can be beneficial for those seeking further damages.

When to File a Third-Party Claim for Your Work-Related Injury

If you are injured at work by actions resulting from a third party, you may have to file a claim separate from workers’ compensation under RCW 51.24.030. To do this, you will need to prove that the other party’s negligence is the cause of your injuries.

Examples of third-party claims could include a delivery driver for another company, injuries due to a manufacturer’s defect, injuries to subcontractors due to a general contractor’s negligence, injuries to a construction worker due to a property owner’s negligence, or animal bites.

If your third-party claim accompanies a workers’ compensation claim, you may have to reimburse the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries for the compensation they provided after you settle with the third party. Due to these complications, working with a workers’ compensation attorney is recommended, as our lawyers can help protect your legal rights and maximize your claim.

Why Workers’ Comp Claim Denial Happens and What to Do About It

Claim denial can seemingly occur without any reason. Waiting too long to report your injury or failing to follow important reporting rules from your employer are common reasons for denials. To make sure that your claim has the best chance of approval, be sure to work with a workers’ compensation lawyer to make an on-time, comprehensive claim with proper medical and evidential documentation.

If you have already submitted a claim and been denied, you can appeal it under RCW 51.52.060. Under Washington State law, you have to file an appeal through the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals. Through this process, you have a second attempt to explain your situation and resubmit supporting evidence.

Before you take this step, consider hiring an Olympia workers’ compensation attorney from our law firm to help you build a strong claim and maximize your chances of winning your appeal.

Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Illnesses

Occupational hazards and on-the-job injuries are relatively easy to understand, but occupational illnesses and diseases are often more complicated. To be covered by workers’ comp, you must prove that your illness or disease developed as a direct result of your job or work environment. This could require medical evidence and potentially expert testimony to be brought in.

Examples of occupational illnesses seen in the Olympia, WA area include:

Asbestosis or cancer, caused by exposure to the hazardous material asbestos, is common in the construction industry
Lead poisoning due to exposure is common in battery manufacturing or the construction industry
Pesticide poisoning due to exposure in the landscaping or agriculture industries
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), due to on-the-job trauma, such as for first responders
Respiratory diseases and asthma, caused by sensitizers or irritants

When you acquire an illness due to exposure at work, be sure that you are represented properly by someone who can advocate for your best interests. At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, our workers’ compensation attorneys here in Olympia will fight for your best interests so that you have the best chances of a normal life moving forward.

Workers’ Compensation for First Responders in the South Puget Sound

First responders confront dangerous and deadly situations every day, and when one is injured on the job or begins to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they deserve to be taken care of. Recent updates to the Washington State legislature under RCW 51.08.142 now recognize PTSD and other mental conditions caused by stress as an occupational disease.

At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, our first responder PTSD lawyer understands the impact of these new laws and how to best file a workers’ compensation claim to qualify as an occupational disease. Do not risk missing out on your ability to claim for your work-related PTSD. Work with our team to optimize your chances of securing the compensation you need.

Contact Olympia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Today

At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, we stand together with injured workers to advocate for fair compensation. If you are facing an injury or illness due to an employer’s negligence, you deserve compensation and support through your recovery.

Our Olympia workers compensation lawyers in South Puget Sound are experienced with the laws and regulations guiding the industries in our area and know what it takes to win your case. Set up a free case consultation with our team to discuss your specific situation and get your questions answered. Contact our Olympia law office today to get started on the next stage of your life and find a way to move forward.