Workers Compensation in Bellingham, WA
You aren’t alone if you wonder how workers’ compensation works.
Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. How far this coverage goes depends on Washington state law.
If your injury or illness is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden.
Learn some of the basic principles of Washington workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Bellingham, Washington?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 2.8 million work-related illnesses or injuries in Washington in 2019 alone. These events produced a loss of over 888,200 work hours or 1.5 million days absent from work. As of April 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor reported 114,000 people made up the civilian workforce in Bellingham. The third-highest employer in the area is the mining, logging, and construction industries. Unfortunately, these workers experienced the highest rate of incidents in the state, according to the Western Information Office.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Bellingham, Washington?
There is a standard practice to follow when going through the Washington workers’ compensation process.
The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to the injury are crucial. The injury had to occur during your regular work duties.
Washington State is unique because workers’ compensation coverage comes from the state governments. The Department of Labor & Industries has the duty of managing the program currently. Approved Bellingham residents receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, if you cannot return to your job, you can also take advantage of vocational rehabilitation services.
For example, say your supervisor asked you to drop something off on your lunch break. While running this errand you then get in a car accident on your way to the destination. Any resulting injury is eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if you are on your lunch break, performing no such task when you get in an accident, it does not qualify for a claim.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Washington are critical for filing a claim. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.
Get Medical Attention
After you get injured or feel ill, the first step is to see a doctor. Don’t delay receiving help from a Washington healthcare professional. Taking too long could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing deadlines.
Even if you believe your injury is minor, get a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This step is the top priority in the workers’ compensation claim process. Otherwise, your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier.
You may have regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally connects your illness with your job. Your medical records will become the foundation from which the workers’ comp carrier will launch its investigation.
Generally, your doctor determines if the illness happened because of your work conditions or became aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.
File a First Report of Injury
Once you have a medical diagnosis relating your illness or injury to your job, you must file a claim with your employer.
Washingtonians living in the Bellingham area have up to 1 year from the injury or illness to file their claim. If you believe that you’re suffering after being hurt on the job, it’s crucial to seek medical attention. The office should provide you with forms that will go to the government. Notifying your supervisor at work is essential because employers only have 24 hours to submit their reports to the state.
Timeline and Other Information
Bellingham residents must wait at least 3 days before receiving benefits. The weekly payments and coverage for injury-related medical care continue as long as a doctor deems it necessary. If this recovery period lasts longer than 2 weeks, you can also receive reimbursement for the waiting period.
Your employer should furnish you with information about the claims process. The adjuster or insurance carrier representative may want to speak to you at some point about the incident and any possible witnesses to the event. In the meantime, the workers’ comp insurer may begin paying medical benefits while the investigation into your claim continues.
Why You Should Hire a Bellingham, Washington Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in Bellingham, Washington, in others, it may be more difficult. For example, your employer may decide to question whether you were hurt on the clock or on your own time. It’s also common for a company to question the full extent of your injury. Hiring a Bellinghamworkers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Bellingham, Washington
If you are hurt or contract an illness as a result of your job in Bellingham, Washington you need to find the right people to help. Since the workers’ compensation claims process can have pitfalls, you should consider getting a local attorney who knows how to avoid them.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
