Workers’ Compensation For Back Injuries In Central Washington
Last updated on January 3, 2025
Back injuries are a major cause of Labor & Industries workers’ compensation claims in Washington state.
How To Get Financial Support
Dealing with pain and reduced mobility from a back injury on the job would be so much less stressful if you had some financial cushioning.
Workers’ compensation benefits, overseen by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) in Washington state, provides just that kind of support.
After you’re hurt at work, workers’ comp pays for lost wages and the medical care you need. That keeps your lifestyle stable while you focus on your well-being.
Back injuries are a major cause of L&I claims. But they come in many different types and levels of severity. A workers’ compensation lawyer like the ones at Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC can help you build your individual claim for benefits.
Our firm helps people win workers’ comp benefits in Yakima, Kennewick, Sunnyside, Spokane, Richland, Ellensburg, Wenatchee, Walla Walla and anywhere in central Washington.
We’ll do the legwork to get your benefits, so you can rest.
Types Of Workers’ Comp Claims For Back Injuries
Workers in Washington made almost 13,000 claims for back and spine injuries in 2019, according to L&I. It was one of the top types of injury on the job.
People made 5,437 claims for shoulder injuries and 1,188 for neck injuries.
Back injuries can be involved in both of the two major categories of workers’ comp claims:
- Claims for sudden traumatic injuries
- Claims for occupational diseases that build over time
The first type of claim comes from a specific accident that you can identify.
The second type of workers’ comp claim results from ongoing conditions, where there’s not a single moment you can say that your injury started.
Back conditions under occupational diseases include:
- Spondylosis: Degeneration of discs and joints in the spine
- Stenosis: Narrowing of the spine, putting pressure on nerves
- Degenerative disc disease: Wear and tear on your spinal discs
The most important part of any workers’ comp claim is that your injury or illness must have taken place at work.
You need documentation of an accident and evidence of conditions that caused an occupational disease.
Occupational diseases can be challenging for workers’ comp claims because it’s harder to pinpoint the cause.
But Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC workers’ comp attorneys can look at your case and let you know what you need for a successful claim.
How To Start An L&I Claim For A Back Injury In Washington
Falls are some of the most common types of accidents reported by L&I, along with being struck by objects or caught in equipment or between surfaces.
Overexertion and repetitive motion are among the major causes of occupational diseases.
As soon as you realize that your job has damaged your health — whether it’s because of an accident or a medical condition you’ve gradually developed — you should start your workers’ comp claim right away:
- Report your injury or illness to your employer AND GET IT IN WRITING.
- Go to the doctor and get treatment for your injury or occupational illness.
And make sure the workers’ comp system doesn’t try to shortchange you on the benefits you should get. The L&I system has its own laws, doctors, courts and judges.
An experienced Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC workers’ comp lawyer can help you secure the maximum benefits owed to you and a brighter financial future. Contact us today at 509-606-6917.
