At Bothwell & Hamill, we understand how difficult paying your medical bills and supporting yourself and your family can be if you’re injured on the job. The workers’ compensation process is full of deadlines and complicated steps. You deserve representation that is proactive, efficient and focused on the important issues.
As workers’ comp attorney Tim Hamill says, “Every decision has a deadline to challenge that decision or it is final.” You deserve an attorney like Tim on your side, speaking up for you at every step.
At Bothwell & Hamill we will evaluate your case for free. We’re happy to discuss your options over the phone if you’re unable to travel to our offices
Contact Bothwell & Hamill today!
{
“@context”: “http://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Question”,
“text”: “If I’m injured at work, what should I do first?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “First, tell your employer or supervisor about your accident and/or injury and seek immediate medical attention. Usually, the medical provider will have a Report of Injury or Occupational Disease form for claim filing, but you can get the form from the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) or from your self-insured employer’s workers’ compensation representative. Get a copy of the report for your records. If you have a serious injury, you might need to contact a workers’ comp lawyer for additional help or advice. If you feel your injury requires you to seek legal advice, contact experienced L&I Attorney Tim Hamill of Bothwell & Hamill.”
}
}
{
“@context”: “http://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Question”,
“text”: “How does Social Security decide if I have a disability?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Social Security determines whether you have an official disability by reviewing your medical and employer records. Often these records extend back a year or more, so it’s important to start gathering documentation well ahead of any appeals or hearings. Because doctors don’t always know what Social Security considers to be a disability, the attorneys at Bothwell & Hamill make sure to describe and present your information in a way that makes sense to the Social Security Administration. We’ll help you collect, organize and evaluate your records to maximize your chance of success.”
}
}
{
“@context”: “http://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Question”,
“text”: “Can I see my own doctor for treatment for my injury?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Yes. Per the Washington State workers’ compensation laws, injured workers may choose their own doctor for treatment. The attending medical provider must be licensed in medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, naturopathy, podiatry, dentistry, or be an advanced registered nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. Additionally, if medically necessary and approved by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) or your self-insured employer, you may seek treatment from more than one doctor, which is called concurrent care. However, you likely will have one attending physician directing your care. You may be asked for an “independent” examination from doctors selected by L&I or your self-insured employer. These special exams are provided for under the industrial insurance laws of Washington. The location of these exams must be reasonably close to your home. Check out Finding Approved Doctors for Workers’ Compensation in Washington State for more information.”
}
}
{
“@context”: “http://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Question”,
“text”: “If I’m unable to work after an injury, how long do I have to wait to receive my time loss compensation?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “If you’re unable to work for more than three days immediately following the injury, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) or the self-insured employer will usually pay time loss benefits within 14 days of the date the accident report was received by the department or employer. The report must include certification from your doctor showing you’re unable to work as a direct result of an on-the-job injury or exposure. Attorney Tim Hamill can help you compile the documents necessary to put together a compelling case. Contact us today for a free evaluation.”
}
}
{
“@context”: “http://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Question”,
“text”: “What are the time limits for filing a claim?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “You must file an industrial injury claim with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) or self-insured employer within one year of the date of injury.
An occupational disease claim must be filed within two years of your doctor advising you in writing that your work produced a symptomatic physical condition. It is best to file the claim as soon as you and your doctor determine that your physical condition is related to your current job or a job you performed in the past. For hearing loss claims, you must file within two years of your last exposure to work-related noise. If the claim is filed after the two-year deadline, you will only be entitled to medical treatment and hearing aids. No permanent partial disability will be awarded for occupation hearing loss after the deadline.”
}
}
{
“@context”: “http://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Question”,
“text”: “When should I talk to a lawyer about my industrial injury claim?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The workers’ compensation laws are complex and constantly changing. A qualified and experienced workers’ comp attorney can assist you with the process of obtaining benefits and make sure you receive all the benefits you’re entitled to under Washington state laws. If you have questions, never hesitate to contact a qualified workers’ comp attorney at any time during your claim process. A qualified attorney can often answer your questions during the initial consultation and can make recommendations for moving forward. Before pursuing benefits, or if you were denied by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) or your self-insured employer, contact Bothwell & Hamill for help.”
}
}
{
“@context”: “http://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Question”,
“text”: “What if I can’t go back to my old job or the type of work I used to be able to do?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “If your attending physician determines that your on-the-job injuries prevent you from returning to the type of work you performed in the past, you may be entitled to receive vocational services in addition to ongoing time loss compensation. In that case, a vocational counselor will meet with you, obtain your complete work history and submit written job analyses to your attending physician. Those analyses may include your job at the time of injury, lighter-duty work performed in the past or a modified job that you have the skills to perform. Should your attending physician sign one of these job analyses, you will be deemed able to work by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and your time loss compensation will stop. However, should your physician determine that you cannot return to regular work or work performed in the past and the vocational counselor agrees that you do not have the skills to perform other work without training, you could receive vocational retraining.”
}
}
{
“@context”: “http://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Question”,
“text”: “If my claim is rejected, how do I protest or appeal an unfavorable order from the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Filing an appeal to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals can be a lengthy and expensive process. Contact Bothwell and Hamill immediately if you receive a denial or rejection order from L&I. We can review your claim and take appropriate action within the protest or appeal period. Any unfavorable decision must be protested or appealed within 60 days of receipt or it becomes final and binding.”
}
}
{
“@context”: “http://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Question”,
“text”: “How will my time loss compensation be calculated?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Time loss compensation calculation may be complex in some cases and is always important. Generally speaking, time loss is determined by your monthly wages at the time of injury or initial illness. Wages can include room and board, income from a second job or self-employment, tips, bonuses and overtime. Wages also include the cost of employer-paid medical, dental and visual insurance premiums. However, employer contributions to a retirement plan are excluded. After determining your monthly wages, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) issues an order setting wages on your claim and pays a percentage of the wages as follows: Single workers — 60% Married workers — 65% Each child born or conceived prior to injury date — 2% If the department-issued wage order is incorrect, the order must be protested or appealed in writing within 60 days.”
}
}
{
“@context”: “http://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Question”,
“text”: “How much does it cost to get Bothwell & Hamill to represent my disability case?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “If you don’t win benefits, you pay only expenses such as filing fees and incidentals. We don’t charge for legal or staff time. If you win, the most it could cost is 25 percent of the past-due benefits you earn while you wait for a decision, with a maximum fee of $6,000. The sooner you get a lawyer involved, the lower those costs are likely to be.”
}
}
{
“@context”: “http://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Question”,
“text”: “Can I draw Social Security benefits at the same time as I am drawing my time loss or pension benefits?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Yes. Between Social Security Disability and Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) benefits, you’re entitled to receive no more than 80% of your highest year’s earnings or your time loss compensation or pension rate — whichever is higher. Social Security will reduce any retroactive disability benefits based on the wages you were receiving from L&I. Similarly, the Department will reduce your ongoing benefits based on your Social Security benefits. Applying for Social Security Disability benefits is ideal if you know you will be unable to work for at least year. Bothwell & Hamill can help you with workers’ comp and Social Security Disability Benefits. If you have questions about either, contact us today.”
}
}
