Today is Thanksgiving, and I can’t ignore the fact that I have a lot to be thankful for. I am thankful for my family, the people who stand by me, encourage me, and inspire me. I am thankful for my children, they have made my heart so much bigger than I ever thought it could […]
Getting injured in Washington State (especially in areas where the cost of living is higher) can be a financial disaster. L&I or private insurance time-loss compensation (the monetary benefit paid when you are incapable of working because of your injury or disease) is only a percentage of what you were making at the time of […]
It is important to know the benefits available under the Industrial Insurance Act. Often, many injured workers are surprised to learn about Loss of Earning Power Benefits (LEP) from L&I. The LEP is a wage replacement benefit. LEP is available for injured workers who return to work following injuries or occupational diseases, but at diminished […]
Look up “wage replacement” on the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) website. You will learn that you can be paid a portion of your lost wages as “time-loss compensation” benefits after an initial 3 day waiting period following an industrial injury. This benefit is only a percentage of what you were making at the […]
In workers’ compensation we rely heavily on the opinions of the attending physician and treating providers. However, in order for an opinion to be truly valuable it must have a strong basis. In the legal setting, an opinion that is merely conclusory will generally not be given the same weight as an opinion that is […]
One difficulty I have when trying to communicate with injured workers about their claims is overcoming lack of understanding or misunderstanding of how the workers’ compensation system works. This can be easy to correct by simply providing the injured worker with a brief outline of the claim process, benefit types, and most pertinent requirements. […]
One of the difficulties in workers’ compensation claims is the paperwork requirements. Everyone involved in workers’ compensation claims have significant paperwork demands. Attending physicians, treating providers, counselors, therapists, employers and injured workers. Sometimes paperwork is confusing. Sometimes it feels unnecessary. And sometimes it is incredibly burdensome. As a result paperwork frequently isn’t done right. It […]
Did you know that there is a trend across the United States to deny workers’ compensation claims of first responders for mental heath conditions? This includes PTSD resulting from situations they encounter when responding to events while in the line of duty. Did you know there is a trending increase in suicide rates among […]
It was my pleasure speaking at the WILG Annual Convention today. My talk was focused on ethical considerations when representing injured workers who are or may be addicted to opioid pain medication. A big thank you to the conference attendees who openly participated. Many folks in the audience helped foster a productive conversation about […]
Did you know that many injured workers have difficulties obtaining an “attending physician” for their claims? The role of attending physician (AP) is incredibly important. The AP certifies entitlement to benefits and makes treatment recommendations. APs also make appropriate referrals and their opinion is given special consideration. While injured workers may choose their […]