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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 Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), an agency that oversees distributing workers’ compensation benefits to employees who are injured at work or contract an industrial disease while performing their job. Watch our videos presented by Emery | Reddy, PC partner Patrick B. Reddy to learn more about L&I — workers’ compensation.

Workers Compensation 101:

A Complete Video Guide to the L&I Process

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Workers Compensation FAQ:

Common Workers’ Comp Questions

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What Is Employment and Labor Law

Employment law in Washington state encompasses a broad range of regulations and protections designed to govern the relationship between employers and employees. Some of those protections for workers include the following rights:

  • Receiving equal pay for equal work
  • Receiving reasonable accommodations for religious beliefs, disability, or pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
  • Not being sexually harassed or discriminated against for your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 and above), disability, or genetic information.
  • Reporting discrimination or other labor violations without fear of retaliation.

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) protects workers further by ensuring that employees:

  • Work in a safe and healthy environment,
  • Receive meal and rest breaks,
  • Be paid at least minimum wage for all hours worked,
  • Receive overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek,
  • Accrue and be allowed to use paid sick leave hours,
  • Be paid tips and service charges, and
  • Be able to discuss potential violations of these rights with your employer.
HOW IT WORKS

How Employment Law and Washington State L&I Claims Work Together

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Your Washington State L&I Claim Is Worth More If You Also Have an Employment Claim

A significant number of Washington state L&I claims often involve additional legal claims, such as employment or third-party claims. Many people file their claims without seeking representation from an experienced Washington state L&I attorney and thus never discover that, in addition to their Washington state L&I claim, they may be missing out on the ability to file an employment claim or a third-party claim. Pursuing additional legal action with the help of an experienced Seattle workers’ compensation and L&I attorney has the potential to significantly increase a claim’s overall compensation. At Emery | Reddy, our experienced Attorneys practice both Employment and Labor Law as well as Workers’ Compensation Law, which means we will investigate all aspects of your claim to make sure you aren’t missing out on any potential benefits.

What Is an Employment 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, discrimination, or unpaid wages. An L&I attorney who is experienced in both L&I — Workers’ Compensation Law and Employment and Labor Law can help you with your Washington state 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 Washington state 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. Third-party claims are private matters and are typically litigated directly with the Washington State Superior Court.

Who Is at Fault for a Workplace Injury?

L&I is a no-fault system, ensuring compensation for any industrial disease. However, if a third party is involved in causing your illness, 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 Strong Washington State L&I Claim?

If you have a Washington state L&I claim or wonder if you should contact an experienced Seattle L&I attorney, ask yourself the following:

If any of the above apply to you, Emery | Reddy may be able to help.

Navigating a Washington state L&I claim can be difficult and very time-consuming, especially when you’re ill or injured. You want to focus on healing and make sure your bills are paid, but if you don’t file things properly or on time, your health, home, and job could be in jeopardy. Many individuals miss out on much-needed L&I benefits because they don’t understand what to do or how to get the most compensation for their injuries. If you are experiencing any challenges in your case, a Seattle workers’ compensation and L&I attorney can assist you. By contacting Emery | Reddy as soon as possible after you’ve been injured, we can help you avoid the common pitfalls of filing and navigating an L&I claim. Our Washington state L&I Attorneys are here for you every step of the way.

patrick reddy and timothy emery in downtown seattle

Emery | Reddy Can Help You with Your Workers’ Compensation or Employment Claim

Emery | Reddy 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 for a Free Case Review with an experienced Intake Specialist to learn more about how we may be able help. No fee unless we recover for you.

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Whether you’ve been injured on the job, subjected to mistreatment in the workplace, or affected by a privacy breach, our expert attorneys are here to help.

"Very friendly interview and intake process. I was informed thoroughly about the processes in obtaining a lawyer and was given ample time to make a decision on representation. I’m thankful for everyone’s help and looking forward to working with this Firm on my worker’s compensation claim."

- Darren A.

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