Workers Compensation in Tacoma, 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 Tacoma, Washington?
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that over 54,700 unsung heroes in Tacoma worked in education and health services as of December 2020. According to data published by the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, the rate of occupational incidents for teachers and nurses occurred at a rate of 4.6 out of every 100. If we apply the average for the state to the number of locals, approximately 25,160 people in one industry experienced a work-related incident. It should come as no surprise that claims to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries cost an average of $10,157 for every type of employer in 2019.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Tacoma, Washington?
Unfortunately, going through the process of applying for workers’ compensation begins with getting sick or injured on the job. The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to your problems are especially crucial. For example, the injury had to occur during your regular work duties. While an event that happens during your lunch break wouldn’t apply, getting into a car accident while running an errand for your boss would qualify for a claim.
Unless you have one of the handfuls of exemptions from the state, your employer in Tacoma must have workers’ compensation insurance. The law requires organizations to purchase coverage through the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Your medical bills related to the injury or illness are covered, and you can take advantage of vocational rehabilitation. To cover your lost wages, the state calculates 60% to 75% of your annual salary and provides that amount in weekly payments.
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 seek medical attention immediately. Don’t wait to see a healthcare professional. Delaying care could not only put your health at risk but also cause you to miss important deadlines.
Even if your injury seems minor, it’s crucial to get a thorough medical report outlining the extent of the injury and how it occurred. This is a critical step in the workers’ compensation claim process. Without it, your employer will not be able to 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.
After you’ve received medical attention, tell your supervisor about your condition and how it happened at work. The statute of limitations to file for workers’ compensation is one year from the date of the incident. So, it’s in your best interest to act right away. If hospitalization is required, your employer is obligated to file an Employer’s Report of Accident within eight hours of the incident. If someone loses an eye or limb, the law says that an organization has to contact the state 24 hours before the event.
Timeline and Other Information
Since workers’ compensation is run by the State of Washington, everything happens according to their timeline. At first, you have to wait the mandatory three days before receiving compensation for lost wages and medical bills. State law allows you to stay on temporary disability for as long as necessary to recover from work-related illness or injuries. If you receive a denial of your claim, you have to file an appeal within 60 days of the decision. That time is limited to 20 days when Labors & Industries demand that you repay benefits to a medical provider.
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. Typically about the incident and to 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 Tacoma, Washington Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in Tacoma, Washington, in others, it may be more difficult. For example, your employer may ask if you suffer an injury 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 Tacoma workers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Tacoma, Washington
If you are hurt or contract an illness as a result of your job in Tacoma, WA 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.
