Reopening a Work Injury Claim and the L&I Claim Reopening Process

Did you know that workers’ compensation claims in Washington State can be reopened after they close? If any medical condition related to the original injury or occupational disease objectively worsens (for physical conditions) after L&I claim c… Read More
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Injured Workers and Workers' Compensation Claims in Port Angeles, WA

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 s… Read More
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Medical Records in L&I Claims and Workers' Compensation Cases

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… Read More
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Frustrating Yet Successful Week for My Workers' Compensation Clients

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 b… Read More
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State-Funded vs Self-Insured Workers' Compensation Claims

Background In Washington State Workers’ compensation claims, it is important whether a claim is state-funded versus self-insured. Workers’ compensation cases are governed by the Industrial Insurance Act, which was created to provide benefits to w… Read More
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The Healthcare Industry Has the Highest Rate of Work Related Injuries and Illnesses

Introduction According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors of the US economy. Women represent nearly 80% of that workforce. Working in healthcare means being involved in providing direct… Read More
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Workers Compensation in Kitsap County and the Local Job Market

In Washington State, once an injured worker received all treatment available for their industrially related conditions, the Department of Labor and Industries must determine if the worker is employable. After treatment, some injured workers can retur… Read More
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Work Injury in the Logging Industry in Western Washington

Logging has been an important industry for Washington State. It still drives the local economy in some counties. Where there is logging there is injury at work. According to the Washington State Timber Harvest Reports, Lewis County and Grays Harbor C… Read More
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One Treatment Does Not Fit All: Chronic Pain and Opioids

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 topi… Read More
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Injured Workers Have 60 Days to Protest or Appeal L&I decisions

The number 60 is very important in Workers’ Compensation claims. When the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) makes formal decisions regarding benefits, those decisions are issued as Orders. These orders are sometimes called “Ord… Read More
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