Workers’ Compensation

You were hurt at work, and now you have injuries, financial losses, and emotional trauma. In situations like this, you may expect the insurance company to cover your losses so you can move on. It often does not happen. With the help of a workers’ compensation attorney at Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, Attorneys at Law, you gain the insight you need to make sure you get the level of support you need.

Determine If You Are Entitled to Workers’ Compensation Losses

If you are hurt on the job or you suffer an occupational disease, you have the right to compensation for your losses. The goal of this compensation is to help you recover from the losses you incurred so you can heal. Yet, there are many situations in which victims do not get the financial compensation owed to them and wind up suffering for years from the incident.

To determine if you are owed compensation in a work-related incident, we encourage you to take the first step in contacting an Olympia workers’ compensation attorney. When you do, we will provide you with a full, free consultation to discuss your case. We can learn more about what occurred and offer our initial belief of whether or not you have a workers’ compensation claim or if you have not received fair compensation for the losses you have.

If you have a claim, we will walk you through the entire process, ensuring proper documentation of your claim and a full explanation of your rights. With this knowledge, you can be sure you are not settling your case for less than you are owed. At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, Attorneys at Law, we know how much is at risk, and we will work unconditionally to support you throughout the legal case. Read through our frequently asked questions to learn more today.

The Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available to Those in Olympia, WA

Understanding your rights to compensation after a work-related injury is not simplistic, which is why you should work with an experienced team of attorneys. Though a simple cut may result in a trip to the ER, a simple medical bill, and a day off from work, many other, more serious injuries lead to long-term injuries, disease, and limitations. The complexities make it critical that you have a workers’ compensation lawyer in Olympia, WA, available to guide you. We can help you with that process.

The following are examples of some of the benefits you may be owed in a work accident or illness, depending on the details of your case for workers’ compensation. Remember that every case is different, but with the help of our attorney, we can be sure you claim all of your losses.

Medical Benefits

Under the State of Washington’s laws, you are entitled to compensation for any medical treatment you need after the injury or workplace illness occurs. This includes not just initial care but also ongoing care and rehabilitation. This should cover any losses you incur from all verified medical needs.

Expense Benefits

Many times, you may also be able to claim any expenses you have due to the incident. This may include travel costs if you have to travel a distance to go to the hospital for specialist care or medical appointments. You may also be entitled to compensation for any other losses you have, such as any property damaged during the incident. If your phone, for example, was damaged, you may be able to recover that cost.

Wage Loss Replacement

Workers’ compensation benefits in Washington will also provide wage loss replacement. This right can be a bit more challenging since your ability to recover damages for wages depends on the amount of loss you have. You may be entitled to replace some of your lost wages. This applies in situations where you miss time from your normal work schedule. If you come back to work but cannot work full time or as you were, and you end up earning less, you may be able to recover some of those losses as well. Some people may be required to take a lower-paying position until they can return to full work, for example.

Vocational Retraining Costs

There may be some situations where your injuries or occupational illness leads to an inability to recover fully. You may not be able to go back to work at all. In these situations, you may still be able to work, but you need new skills to apply to a different job. Workers’ compensation benefits will cover, in these applicable situations, vocational training that helps you to get back to work in a position you can do.

Disability Compensation and Benefits

Most people end up going back to work. When you do, you may still have a period of time when you cannot go back to work. When you go back to work, though, you cannot do everything you do. You have some remaining impairment as a result of the injury. This type of benefit helps to cover limitations that you now have due to the injury or occupational illness.

Pension Benefits

Washington workers’ compensation benefits also include pension benefits. If you are unable to go back to work at all, and your injuries are too severe to even allow for retraining, you may be provided with pension benefits. These benefits are applied in situations where a person is considered permanently and totally disabled as a result of an occupational illness or injury.

Death Benefits

In situations where a person dies while working, workers’ compensation benefits will cover the costs of final medical bills, funeral and burial costs, as well as pension benefits provided to the surviving, dependent family members.

Why Hiring an Attorney to File Workers’ Compensation Benefits Is Essential

Anyone who suffers an injury or occupational illness has the right to seek out compensation for their losses. Yet, that does not mean the process of doing so will be fair or simple. Hiring a workers’ compensation attorney in Olympia, WA, empowers you. It provides you with a way to ensure you receive the compensation you are owed without leaving money on the table.

Our legal team helps you with the entire legal process. That includes determining if you have a case and what your case is worth. Consider these steps in filing a workers’ compensation claim in Olympia, Washington, and how our attorneys can help you with the entire process.

First Step: Seek Medical Care

After a worker suffers an injury, the first step they should take is to secure medical care. Go to the hospital or urgent care center. Tell them you were hurt at work. Get all of the medical care recommended for you. This ensures you have documentation of the incident and that you were following all care requirements to move your case forward.

We also encourage you to contact our Olympia, WA, workers’ compensation attorneys at this point if you are involved in a serious work-related incident. Be sure to avoid making common mistakes that can worsen your injury.

Filing a Claim with the Appropriate Parties

Most employees will submit a claim through the Washington Department of Labor & Industries for their losses. Some employers may be self-insured. If that is the case, you will need to file the claim with the employer.

You have one year from the date of the incident to file a claim with the appropriate parties. Our goal, as your workers’ compensation attorney, is to ensure this is done well before that period, ensuring you file a claim that is comprehensive and clearly outlines your losses.

Respond as Required

There are situations in which you may have to answer questions about your accident or illness. Unfortunately, this is necessary. As your workers’ compensation attorney, we will ensure that you are answering questions properly and thoroughly. There are many situations where you may need to submit additional medical information.

Also notable is that there are some situations where the Department of Labor & Industries will require that you have an independent medical examination completed. You do not pay for this out of pocket, but you may be required to complete it. If requested, our attorneys will determine if it is necessary and what steps you can take to protect your case throughout the process.

Seek Out Appeals if Needed

In most situations of clear workers’ compensation losses, you should receive compensation as outlined in your claim. If, for any reason, the Department of Labor & Industries denies your claim, you have the right to appeal that decision. This is called filing a protest against their decision. Alternatively, you may also file an appeal through the Washington Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals.

In situations where a denial occurs, your workers’ compensation lawyer in Olympia, WA, will help you navigate the legal process based on your specific concerns. We will determine what caused the denial of claims and then seek out any necessary or possible documentation to better improve your chances upon appeal.

We strongly recommend having an Olympia workers’ compensation attorney available to you going into any appeals process. You do not have unlimited appeals. Ultimately, you will need to ensure you put your best possible case forward to ensure you get the compensation owed to you.

Third-Party Liability Claims in Olympia

One of the situations that may arise in your case is a lack of ability to seek out a lawsuit against your employer or fellow workers. However, there are situations where you may be able to seek compensation from a third party. For example, if a defective product caused your injury or loss, you may be able to seek compensation from that product’s manufacturer. Other items, such as your workplace injury, may be due to negligence on the part of a third party working at the location. This enables you to seek additional compensation from those parties.

In these situations, it is critical to have an experienced workers’ compensation attorney in Olympia, WA, to guide you. Without this type of hands-on support and experience, you may not know that you can file additional claims in your case. At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, Attorneys at Law, we put hard work into every claim process to ensure you get any available compensation in your case.

Why Depend on Our Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Olympia, WA?

Your workers’ compensation claim is not simple. You are facing numerous challenges and may even have long-term, lasting injuries. You need an attorney with the experience and knowledge of the local courts to help you through this process. At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, Attorneys at Law, you can trust that we will bring the fight to your case.

• We pursue the most favorable results for every case we take on.
• We examine all avenues in your case and determine all potential ways to recover your losses.
• Our attorneys will work to help you get the medical care and support you need in this difficult situation.
• Our workers’ compensation attorneys also work to determine if any other party may be responsible for your losses.
• Expect us to go to court to fight for your losses if necessary.

Achieving the best results in your case takes an experienced attorney who is committed to working closely with you. At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, Attorneys at Law, you can expect us to do just that. Our workers’ compensation attorney in Olympia, WA, will provide you with exceptional guidance at every step of the process, from providing initial oversight into whether you are being treated fairly to seeking additional compensation from third parties.

Turn to Our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Olympia, WA

At Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, Attorneys at Law, our workers’ compensation attorneys provide clients with comprehensive legal support through some of the most challenging legal cases. If you are facing injury or losses due to work-related illness or injury and not being treated fairly, contact us for an immediate consultation. There is no cost to you for our initial consultation.

Expect our Olympia workers’ compensation lawyers to be there throughout your case. Call Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey, Attorneys at Law, now to set up a free consultation to discuss your case thoroughly with no obligation to move forward