The open and active phase of a workers’ compensation or L&I claim begins to wind down as the injured worker begins to approach maximum medical improvement (MMI) for their industrially related conditions. Maximum medical improvement does not necessarily mean the injured worker has returned to their pre-injury level of health. Often, injured workers are left […]
One thing I try to do is to empower my clients to take an active role in the progress of their workers’ compensation claims. So many times, when injured workers meet with me, they express sadness, frustration or anger about their L&I claims. Sometimes those feelings have to do with specific circumstances or decisions that […]
Today I participated in a deposition and a hearing in Port Angeles. I have several injured worker clients that live in and around Port Angeles. Geographically, Port Angeles is located on the north end of the Olympic Peninsula in Clallam County. The setting is beautiful since the town lies between the Olympic Mountains and the […]
As part of an ongoing L&I claim and a workers’ compensation case, I attended today a discovery deposition of a medical expert. A significant focus of the questions asked was to address and clarify information contained in historical medical records. Medical records and chart notes are often significant in workers’ compensation cases. In this case, […]
This week has been challenging. I was in Olympia twice for hearings, in Tacoma twice for depositions and in North Seattle one day for a claim related meeting. I also encountered a banking issue that I thought was a serious problem but turned out to be relatively minor and resolved easily with a trip to […]
If you follow workers’ compensation articles, then you know I often talk about opioids and opioid addiction among injured workers. I recently came across this article from July 2018. I wanted to share this article because it highlights key topics that are often overlooked. Specifically, it talks about the “opioid crisis” as it relates to individuals […]
When a loved one is injured at work, there is obviously an emotional and financial impact on the family. If a worker suffers catastrophic or deadly injuries, there is an organization that is dedicated to providing some support and relief for families. This organization is called Kids Chance of Washington. Kids Chance of Washington is […]
Today I presented at the NBI Workers’ Compensation Continued Legal Education (CLE) seminar. My presentation was about preparing your case from investigation through appeal. Other presenters provided an overview of workers compensation and discussed medical issues in workers compensation. Some gave practice tips for presenting cases before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeal (BIIA). […]
Under the Washington State workers’ compensation system, injured workers are entitled to certain statutorily benefits. These benefits depend on the facts and circumstances. Benefits typically include treatment, time-loss compensation or loss of earning power, and discretionary vocational services. They also include permanent partial disability awards, pensions, and sidebar or structured settlements (CRSSAs). I am always […]
It looks like our area is about to see some more big changes as UnitedHealth Group will be acquiring the Polyclinic. UnitedHealth Group is a for-profit managed health care company based in Minnesota. In short, it is an insurance company that is becoming involved in direct patient care by acquiring groups like the Polyclinic. UnitedHealth […]