Worker’s Compensation

The principal differences between a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury lawsuit are the fault provisions and the various types of compensation available. The greatest difference is that a personal injury claim is based on fault and a workers’ compensation claim is not. In order to recover personal injury damages, the injured person must provide proof that the other person was negligent, that the negligent act caused injuries or damages and the total amount of the damages which stemmed from the negligent act. Workers Compensation Workers compensation law only pertains to workers who have been hurt on the job. Workers compensation […]

Contrary to popular belief, workers’ compensation fraud goes beyond a solitary employee exaggerating their workplace injury or working under the table for cash while receiving disability payments. While those things do happen, employers are also committing fraudulent acts by under-reporting their payrolls to obtain lower premiums and health care providers charging for services they have never performed. Workers compensation fraud is costing the businesses and citizens of Washington state billions of dollars every year. 1 in 4 Americans think it’s okay to defraud insurers $4.35 million dollars of insurance premium fraud was discovered in 2009 Between 2005 and 2009, $25 […]

Workplace injuries unfortunately happen all too frequently and can leave those hurt with permanent disabilities making it difficult to earn a living. Whether you are a construction worker, a truck driver, a cook or a businessperson, you are still at risk for a severe work injury. If you or someone close to you has been hurt on-the-job due to a work-related injury, it is important to understand what your rights and options are. The Most Common Workplace Injuries According to the Washington Department of Labor & Industries, 90 percent of on-the-job injuries that resulted in payments to the injured employee came from […]

Are Psychological Conditions Covered by Workers’ Compensation? Find out if you could file a workers’ compensation claim for your mental illness. Are you suffering from a work-related mental illness or psychological condition? Mental health workers’ compensation claims make up a tiny percentage of all workers’ compensation claims. Workers’ compensation can help you cover current and ongoing medical costs, damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. When someone has an accident at work and sustains a physical injury, it is usually compensable. However, psychological conditions are a bit trickier to assess. You may be able to obtain workers’ compensation […]

Health care providers are responsible for taking care of thousands of people every day. Whether you’re sick, hurt, having a baby, or just need a checkup, they are at the forefront making sure you receive the care you need. Unfortunately though, in the United States there is a pandemic that is affecting the health care world; and it has predominately affected those working in the health care environment. In the hospital industry, workplace injuries plague many of its staff. Thousands of nursing and nursing assistants suffer from disabling injuries every year, primarily from doing their everyday jobs — transferring and […]

Are you recovering from a workplace injury or occupational disease? If so, you could tell your employer that you are interested in doing light-duty work. Light-duty work is transitional work that you can do with your medical restrictions while recovering from an injury. The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) encourages employers to provide employees recovering from workplace injuries with light-duty work because it reduces the impact of workers’ compensation claims on workers, employers, and the workers’ compensation system. In fact, L&I offers financial incentives to employers that provide light-duty work through the “Stay at Work” program. What Is […]