Yakima Labor And Industries Attorneys
Last updated on December 18, 2024
By working in Washington state, you earned the right to Labor & Industries workers’ compensation benefits when you’re hurt.
Get Help When You’re Hurt At Work.
Anyone can get hurt at work. At Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC, we help men and women from all walks of life with workers’ compensation matters in Washington state.
That includes construction workers, laborers, farm workers, health care providers, office personnel, Hanford Site workers and more.
I’m Tim Hamill of Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC.
We help people from all over Central Washington who need Workers’ Compensation benefits, including immigrants and undocumented workers. We fight for them, one person at a time.
Your claims manager and non-attorney “advocates” are not there to make sure you get all the benefits you deserve. That’s my job.
What Should I Do After Getting Hurt At Work?
You’ve always been proud of working hard. You showed dedication to your job. If you got hurt or developed an occupational disease, you deserve support to recover, pay your bills and move forward with your life.
This is why workers’ compensation exists. In Washington state, it’s called industrial insurance. The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) oversees it. Under the program, your work earned you the right to benefits.
When you’re hurt at work, this is what you should do:
- Report your injury or illness to your employer right away and get it in writing.
- Get the medical treatment you need.
- Make sure you get all available benefits by calling an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer.
At Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC, that’s workers’ compensation attorney Tim Hamill.
L&I has its own separate laws, doctors, courts and judges. You’re an underdog, going up against a massive, overwhelming system. Tim was an assistant state attorney general representing L&I. He knows what evidence you need and how to protect your rights. Sometimes we can help you keep benefits even after L&I threatens to stop them.
Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC, helps hardworking people in Yakima, Kennewick, Sunnyside, Spokane, Richland, Ellensburg, Wenatchee and Walla Walla. We assist injured workers and their families all across Eastern and Central Washington, answering questions and addressing concerns ranging from eligibility issues to medical treatment denials.
Can I Get Workers’ Comp in Central Washington?
It shouldn’t be hard to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits under the Department of Labor & Industries in Washington State, but sometimes the system stands in your way. See the basics of workers’ comp eligibility in this chart from the Bothwell & Hamill workers’ comp lawyers. Bothwell & Hamill helps people secure their workers’ comp in Yakima, Kennewick, Sunnyside, Spokane, Richland, Ellensburg, Wenatchee, Walla Walla and all across Central Washington.
What Do I Get From L&I?
Workers’ comp provides several forms of financial and career assistance:
- Medical benefits: Your benefits should pay for the medical care you need to recover from work injuries. Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC, can make sure you see qualified doctors of your choosing.
- Lost wages: If you can’t work because of your injury, you’re entitled to lost wages payments. Your check could be 60 to 75% of your regular pay.
- Loss of earning power (LEP) benefits: If you can return to work but earn less due to your injury, you may be eligible for these benefits to help make up the difference.
- Vocational benefits: Workers’ comp also provides retraining for a new job and helps to return to the job market through a vocational counselor.
These benefits are designed to support you through your recovery and help you return to work when possible. Contact our law firm at 509-606-6917 or via our online form to get started on your claim today.
How Do I File For Workers’ Comp?
When you’re hurt at work, you’ll need to file an accident report to start your workers’ comp claim in Yakima or elsewhere in Central Washington. You can do this in a few ways:
- Visit your doctor, who will file your accident report for you.
- File your claim on the L&I website.
- Call L&I at 1-877-561-3453.
- If your employer is self-insured, get an accident form from your employer, file your claim through your employer, get the report in writing & get copies.
Most employers in Washington State get workers’ comp through L&I. About one-third are self-insured. If your employer is self-insured, they handle your paperwork and pay your claim. At Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC, we charge nothing for you to talk to us about your workers’ compensation claim.
Many of our clients started by taking that first step of reaching out to us. You can read their reviews to see how we’ve helped them with their claims and informed them of mistakes to avoid when filing a claim.
What If I’m Denied?
If your doctor can’t confirm that your medical condition comes from a work-specific injury, but instead from a preexisting condition or nonwork-related factors, L&I may deny your claim. But this isn’t the end. You can appeal and say your work aggravated or worsened that condition. When you appeal, we strongly encourage getting a workers’ compensation lawyer to handle the process.
Our workers’ compensation attorneys will work closely with you, your doctors and your L&I claim manager to collect the information you’ll need on your injury, medical history and work history. But move quickly. As Tim Hamill says, “Every decision has a deadline to appeal that decision — or it becomes final.”
Is There A Statute Of Limitations To File An L&I Claim In Washington State?
Yes, there are time limits for filing L&I claims in Washington state. For work injuries, you must file within one year of the injury date. For occupational diseases, you have two years from when you first received written notice from a doctor that the condition is work-related.
How Can The Workers’ Compensation Lawyers At Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC, Help With Your L&I Case?
At our law firm, we fight for your rights one process at a time, making sure you get all the benefits you deserve. Here’s how we can help:
- Transitioning back: We’ll protect your rights when transitioning back to work, including assistance with light-duty arrangements.
- Securing benefits: We’ll work to secure your time-loss benefits and explore options for long-term pension benefits if applicable.
- Work-related accidents: We provide specific legal support for various incidents, from slip-and-falls to motor vehicle accidents.
- Occupational illness claims: We assist with complex cases like coronavirus-related workers’ comp claims.
- Industrial accidents: If you’ve been injured by dangerous machinery, we’ll help you navigate your claim.
- Overextension cases: We understand the complexities of overextension injuries. This includes various strains affecting different parts of your body, from back problems to shoulder injuries and even leg-related issues. We’ll fight for your rights, no matter which part of your body is affected by overexertion at work.
- Evidence gathering: We’ll help ensure your claim has the necessary objective findings to support your case.
Whether you’re suffering heat or cold injuries, dealing with finger or facial issues or any other work-related condition, we have the knowledge to handle your case.
What Are The Best Questions To Ask During A Free Consultation With A Yakima L&I Lawyer?
At your first meeting, you should ask these questions to understand the lawyer’s experience and approach:
- How much experience do you have with workers’ comp cases?
- What’s your success rate with cases like mine?
- How will you communicate with me about my case?
- What challenges do you see in my case?
- How long might my case take?
- What can I do to help my case?
- Can you offer legal services in English and Spanish?
This meeting is about finding the right fit for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A good L&I lawyer will be happy to answer them. To get this kind of service, schedule a free consultation with our bilingual team at Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC, by calling 509-606-6917 or completing our online form. We’ll make sure all your questions are answered so you can leave our Yakima office confident in your choice.
