Losing a limb, hand, or eye is a life-altering experience for anyone. Many amputees are grateful to be alive after their brush with tragedy in a vehicle or at a construction site accident. Yet after the initial shock subsides, injured workers must still learn to cope with the aftermath of their accident, recover from their amputation, and adjust to life with a disability. The L&I lawyers at Emery | Reddy, PLLC believe that all victims deserve an exceptional level of compassion and commitment from the legal team representing them.

Compassion And Experience

After the initial ordeal of an amputation, injured workers often face another round of difficulties as they manage pain, medical bills, lost wages, and emotional stress. We know how challenging this can be for you and your family, and we are committed to supporting you through every step of the process with a full range of legal services. Knowing that you are represented by an experienced Seattle L&I attorney who will work tirelessly on your behalf can significantly lighten your burden, allowing you to focus on the most important priority of all: your amputation recovery.

Physical And Financial Aspects Of Amputation Recovery

In the immediate aftermath of amputation, your wounds will require significant time to heal. Patients sometimes experience phantom pains due to continued activity within the nerve endings. Over the long term, most amputees learn to become mobile again and work with a missing body part.

Financially, the short-term costs for an injured worker can include ambulance and emergency room services, surgery, medication, and other follow-up care. It is also crucial to closely monitor the amputation to prevent infection while wounds heal. During this process, workers will inevitably miss work and need replacements for missed wages.

Long-term financial losses can include medical equipment, prosthetics, rehabilitation services, occupational therapy, and often mental health therapy or vocational rehabilitation. Some individuals with amputations find it challenging to continue their former career path. Construction workers, mechanics, cooks, or repair workers may find it impossible to resume the activities necessary for those jobs; in these cases, vocational rehabilitation services are critical to the amputation recovery process.

If you have suffered any form of amputation from a workplace accident, call our knowledgeable legal team for a free case review.

Our Seattle L&I Attorneys Will Help You Recover:

• Medical benefits: L&I medical benefits will cover all medical costs associated with your claim. This can include doctor appointments, treatments, surgeries, occupational therapy, and prescription medications.
• Time-loss and wage replacement: If you are approved for time-loss benefits, you may receive compensation for lost wages and vocational rehabilitation.
• Damages for pain and suffering: L&I settlement amounts vary widely and typically fall into three categories:

1. L&I Disability Pensions: a life-long benefit awarded to injured workers who will never be able to return to any gainful employment due to a severe or life-threatening injury.
2. Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Awards: a one-time sum paid to injured workers when their L&I claim is closed. The worker can re-enter the workforce following a PPD award.
3. Claim Resolution Settlement Agreement (CRSA): an L&I settlement option where all parties agree to close an injury claim for a specified amount. When agreeing to this settlement type, the injured worker exchanges all future benefits, except medical, for the payment.

We understand that many families depend on the income of an injured worker, and our L&I and amputation injury attorneys are dedicated to winning the benefits and compensation to which you are entitled by law. Our practice was founded on a commitment to advocating for workers’ rights, and we are proud of our record protecting the injured and disabled. Call us today to learn how Emery | Reddy can help you with your amputation L&I claim.

Your L&I Claim Is Worth More If You Also Have An Employment Law Claim

A significant number of L&I workers’ compensation claims often involve additional legal claims such as employment law or third-party claims. Many people file their claims without seeking representation from an L&I attorney and thus never discover that, in addition to their L&I claim, they may be missing out on the ability to file an employment law claim or a third-party claim. Pursuing additional legal action has the potential to significantly increase a claim’s overall compensation.

What Is An Employment Law Claim?

Many injured workers find that their employer has taken, or plans to take, adverse action against them because they filed an L&I claim or they are out of work. You can file a lawsuit against your employer for several reasons, including retaliation, wrongful termination, disability discrimination, or unpaid wages. An L&I attorney that is experienced in both L&I workers’ compensation law and employment law can help you with your L&I claim while simultaneously filing a federal or state law claim for the violation of workers’ rights by your employer.

What Is A Third-Party Claim?

A third-party claim is one in which someone other than your employer or co-worker is responsible for your injury. If you have been injured on the job due to someone else’s actions or negligence, you may be entitled to additional compensation through a third-party claim, which combines your L&I claim with a personal injury claim using the same facts.

Unlike workers’ compensation payments, there is no limit to the amount of compensation an injured worker may seek in third-party damages.

Who Is At Fault For A Workplace Injury?

L&I is a no-fault system, ensuring compensation for any workplace injury. However, if a third-party is involved in causing the injury, you may be able to pursue legal action against them for additional compensation under third-party claims.

How Do I Know If I Have A Case?

The bottom line is that anyone who isn’t familiar with L&I claims should seek the input of experienced L&I attorneys who do.

Emery | Reddy Can Help You With Your L&I Claim

Emery | Reddy, PLLC is the only law firm in Washington State that is equipped to provide comprehensive representation on your case from every angle. Our Seattle L&I attorneys thoroughly assess every case to determine if our clients have additional claims, and at times this can extend far beyond the underlying workers’ compensation claim.

If you have been injured in the workplace, call Emery | Reddy today to speak with our legal team for a free case review. Please remember to have your L&I claim number readily available.

Want More Information?

Claim Value

To determine the value of your L&I claim, you first need to understand the different types of L&I settlements offered in Washington State.

L&I FAQ

The L&I workers’ compensation process is anything but straightforward. Find out the answers to your L&I workers’ comp questions today.

L&I—Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits to injured workers.

Meet The Team

The L&I attorneys at Emery | Reddy are passionate about helping workers with L&I claims and employment law issues. We Help Workers®: it’s our motto and what drives us every day.

We know how L&I and big companies think, and we understand the tactics they use. Our Seattle L&I attorneys use that knowledge coupled with over two decades of experience to help our clients get access to the L&I benefits to which they are legally entitled and hold employers accountable when they break the law.

With our law office location in Seattle, we serve communities throughout the region, including Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Olympia, Shoreline, Spokane, and Tacoma. If you’re struggling with an L&I claim, injury, or legal issue at work, please call us and see how Emery | Reddy can help you today.