Washington State Workers’ Compensation Basics: How an L&I Claim Works

In Washington, employers don’t buy workers’ comp from a private insurer. Most workers are covered by the state’s own fund, run by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), but about one in three work for a large employer that is self-insured and handles its own claims. That split decides who reviews your claim, who pays benefits, and where you turn if something goes wrong. Here is how the system works, start to finish.

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits to injured workers. In Washington state, it is handled by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), a state agency that oversees distributing benefits to employees who are injured at work or contract an illness from their job. Virtually all workers in Washington state have workers’ comp coverage.

What’s The Difference Between L&I And Self-Insured Workers’ Comp In Washington State?

For the majority of employers in Washington state, workers’ comp claims are administered through the Washington state workers’ comp program (L&I). The remaining 30% of employers are self-insured, meaning they provide workers’ comp benefits directly to their employees.

Is Workers’ Comp Required in Washington State?

Yes, for nearly all employers. Washington employers must either carry workers’ comp coverage through L&I’s State Fund or be approved by L&I to self-insure. Private workers’ comp insurance isn’t sold in Washington. A small number of workers, such as federal employees and longshore workers, are covered by separate federal programs instead, and some business owners may be exempt.

Injured At Work? What You Need To Know

When workers in Washington state are injured on the job or afflicted by certain occupational diseases due to their work environment, they have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. In most cases, if it is determined that the injury or illness occurred as a result of the worker’s job, career, or work-related functions or activities, the claim may be accepted, and the worker may qualify for various benefits.

Workers’ Compensation Claims

You can file a claim online through the L&I website, by calling their office at (877) 561-3453, or at your doctor’s office.

Don’t wait to file. L&I requires a claim to be filed within 1 year of a work injury, or within 2 years of your doctor’s diagnosis for an occupational disease.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ comp benefits may help cover lost wages and pay for medical bills while workers recover from an on-the-job injury or occupational illness.

Depending on your claim, you may qualify for benefits such as:

• Medical Care
• Time Loss & Wage Replacement
• Travel Reimbursement
• Property Reimbursement
• Vocational Rehabilitation and Job Retraining
• Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
• Lifetime Pensions
• Death Benefits

Learn more in our guide to the five types of workers’ comp benefits in Washington.

Independent Medical Examinations

You may be required to undergo an independent medical examination (IME) with a doctor hired by the state as part of your claim. The purported reason for an IME is to get an expert opinion on your work injury from a doctor other than your primary provider. However, IME doctors often misdiagnose a patient, or mischaracterize a workplace injury as preexisting, which can result in a denied claim.

Why Choose Emery Reddy As Your Washington Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Even the most straightforward workers’ comp claims can hit roadblocks navigating the bureaucracy of the system. A workers’ compensation claim can be denied for almost any reason. And once the claim is denied, it takes experience and persistence to get L&I to reverse the initial denial. Emery Reddy’s L&I lawyers have years of experience litigating claims and recovering millions for our clients.

Commitment To Compassion

For many injured workers, the suffering continues long after experiencing the initial trauma. In addition to the physical pain, injured workers’ face mounting medical costs, lost wages, and emotional stress.

Let us help lighten the financial burden by representing your workers’ comp claim. We will work diligently to help you pursue the full benefits you may qualify for.

At Emery Reddy, we know how difficult it can be for work injury victims and their families during this time. We are committed to supporting our clients throughout the legal process in order to provide the peace of mind necessary for a full recovery. Contact us today for a Free Case Review. No fee unless we recover.