English
int_slogan7.png
Home / Know Your Rights / Things You Need to Know / Rights of Covered Injured Workers

Rights of Covered Injured Workers

A Washington State worker has the rights to workers' compensation benefits, without regard to fault, if they are injured on the job. Most employers are required to provide State industrial coverage through Labor & Industries (L&I) with either the State Fund or the Self-Insured section. Injured worker rights include:

  1. Medical care
  2. Time Loss Compensation
  3. Permanent Partial Disability Awards (PPD)
  4. Vocational Rehabilitation
  5. Total Permanent Disability/Pension Payments
  6. Death Benefits - If you die from a job-related injury or disease, your surviving spouse and dependent children have the right to receive a monthly pension.
  7. Third Party Claims
  8. Travel Reimbursement: If pre-authorized, reimbursement for travel mileage, parking, tolls, food, lodging, and lost wages will be paid. It is necessary that you keep all bills and receipts and provide copies to your claim manager.
  9. Property Damage Reimbursement:Personal Clothing or protective equipment lost or damaged in a job injury can be replaced. Make sure that any receipts that have been acquired to replace or repair belongings are kept, and copies are given to your claim manager.
  10. Consideration of your Case:
    You have a right to disagree with decisions concerning your claim. You have a right to have your case considered a number of times and by different people. Speak up if your rights are being infringed upon. The following people can and, AFTER PROPER REQUEST, will make decisions on your case:
    a. Claims Manager
    b. Claims Consultant
    c. Industrial Appeals Judge
    d. Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals
    e. Superior Court Judge or Jury
    If you disagree with any decision made concerning your case, make the right request at the right time to have your case reconsidered or reviewed further.
  11. Legal Counsel
    You have a right to legal counsel in workers' compensation matters. If you have questions regarding workers' compensation law, you may want to consult an attorney. You may choose any attorney you wish, and you have a right to have the fees your attorney charges reviewed for reasonableness.
  12. Discrimination Protection
    You have limited protection from employer discrimination for having filed a claim. If you are discriminated against, you must file a formal complaint within ninety (90) days to preserve your rights.
  13. Loss of Earning Power Benefits (LEP)
  14. Reopening Your Claim
    After your claim is closed, if your medical condition worsens and requires additional medical attention, you may apply to reopen your claim.
  15. Claim Resolution Structured Settlement Agreement (CRSSA)
  16. Other Rights

Injured workers often have other rights which arise because of their injury or their status as a worker. Some of these rights are listed below. If you think they may apply to you, get more information. If you have a question about your rights, ask someone.

You may have a right to:

  • Victim of Crime Compensation
  • A healthful and safe working environment with the right to refuse extremely dangerous work.
  • Minimum wage and overtime pay. Worker Rights Complaint form.
  • Prevailing wage while you work on a public works project. Prevailing Wage Complaint form.
  • Protected leave through the Washington Family Care Act, to care for sick family members. Protected Leave Complaint form.
  • Social Security Disability Benefits
  • Unemployment Compensation
  • Protection against discrimination as a handicapped worker.
  • Social service benefits, such as welfare or SSI.
  • Workers' compensation benefits or their rough equivalent in another system if you are a longshoreman, harbor worker, seaman, federal employee, a defense base worker, or a railroad worker.

Contact us

 
int_slide07.jpg

btn_case

Client Letters

The Sharpe Law Firm helped me get a pension after three different lawyers told me I would never get one because L&I was too difficult to fight. Finally a lawyer I met suggested I should contact the Sharpe Law Firm. I went and met Chris Sharpe that very day, he talked about my case and right there he picked up ... Read More

Jo G.

Know Your Rights

Starting an L&I Claim

An L&I claim is easy to start Washington State Workers' Compensation attorney Chris Sharpe explains what to do: See a doctor. Tell the doctor this is ...

Voluntary Retirement

An L&I order, if it determines that you are voluntarily retired, is bad news if you want a pension. Voluntary retirement is a characterization of the ...

PPD Advances

What is a PPD Advance? A permanent partial disability (PPD) advance is partial settlement money before a claim closes. This article is about PPD advances, but ...

Do I Have A Case?

Contact Us

4727 44th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Sharpe Law Firm
4727 44th Avenue SW Suite 207
Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 343-1988

©2012 Sharp Law Firm
Disclaimer and Privacy Policy
Attorney Website Design by The Modern Firm