Getting Started with a Workers' Compensation Claim

If you have been injured at work or if you have developed an occupational disease at work, you must file a claim with Labor and Industries (L&I) or your Self-Insured Employer (SIE) before you can receive any workers compensation benefits.

How do I file a workers’ compensation claim?

If your employer is not self-insured, you may file your L&I claim in one of the following ways:
 

• Visit a doctor in network with L&I. The doctor will file your report of accident for you. See a list of L&I network doctors here.

• File online here: FileFast

• Call 877-561-3453

If your employer is self-insured, you can only file in the following ways:
 

• Obtain a Self-Insured Accident Report (SIF-2) from your employer and fill it out with your doctor, or

• Visit a doctor and ask him or her to fill out a Provider’s Initial Report (PIR)

What is Labor and Industries (L&I)?

L&I is a Washington State agency that administrates the state’s workers' compensation system. L&I can be thought of as a large, publicly funded insurance company that pays for benefits associated with work injuries and occupational diseases. Most Washingtonians pay into the L&I workers compensation system as a tax taken from each paycheck. If your employer is not self-insured, then your benefits will be administered by L&I. You pay for these benefits—use them!

What is a self-insured employer (SIE)?

Some employers are self-insured. With an SIE, work injury claims are managed by the employer or its self-insurance service company (Sedgwick, Penser, Gallagher-Bassett, etc.). SIEs are typically larger companies who self-insure as a means of saving money. SIEs are generally more difficult for injured workers, and they are more stubborn when it comes to giving injured workers the benefits they are entitled to.

Benefits overview

What can I get from L&I? The benefits available to injured workers are neatly defined. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to the following:

• Medical treatment
• Time loss
• Permanent partial disability (PPD)
• Pension
• Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Settlements

Industrial injury vs. occupational disease

A workers compensation claim may be allowed for an industrial injury or an occupational disease. The benefits on the table are the same under both types of claims, however, the two kinds of claims have different deadlines for filing (statute of limitations). Under an industrial injury claim, you must file your claim within one year of the event giving rise to your injury. On the other hand, on an occupational disease claim, you must file your claim within two years of (1) having notice from a doctor of the existence of your occupational disease and (2) having notice that a claim for disability may be filed. The distinction between these two types of claims is very important, and it can cost you your benefits. If the statute of limitations runs on your L&I work injury, you are completely barred from making a claim.

Disputing orders

Your claim manager is responsible for making very important decisions related to your benefits. Your claim manager issues these decisions in correspondence called orders and notices of decision. You have 60 days to protest, appeal, or dispute any adverse order made by L&I or your SIE. Without protest within 60 days, the adverse order becomes final and binding. L&I or your SIE often gets orders wrong, so keep them in check! It is exceptionally important that you or your attorney monitors these deadlines diligently. An adverse final and binding order can break your claim.