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Workers’ Compensation For Overextension In Central Washington

Last updated on January 3, 2025

An overextension injury on the job can seem so sudden and so simple. But it can throw your life into disarray.

If you can’t work for a significant period, you worry how you’ll support yourself and your family.

This is why workers’ compensation benefits exist. With a successful workers’ comp claim, you’ll get access to treatment for your injury and money to replace some of your lost wages. In Washington State, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) oversees workers’ comp claims, which can provide the financial stability you need until you can get back on track.

Overextension is extremely common. In fact, it’s the second leading cause of injury in the workplace. But since overextension can be more or less severe depending on your injury, your claim can be complicated.

Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC can help you win workers’ comp benefits in Richland, Spokane, Kennewick, Sunnyside, Yakima, Walla Walla, Ellensburg, Wenatchee or anywhere else throughout central Washington.

After you’re hurt at work, fight for the financial support you’re entitled to receive.

Types Of Workers’ Compensation Claims For Overextension

From 2007-2019, the number of workers’ comp claims for overextension was 14,875 in Washington State. It was the second most common claim, according to L&I.

Overextension can qualify as:

A claim for a sudden traumatic injury, where an accident occurs and you feel the injury right away.
A claim for an occupational disease that accumulates over time with repeated exposure to harmful conditions, where you can’t pinpoint a specific moment that your injury started.

Either way, to get benefits, you have to show that you’re experiencing overextension pain because of duties performed in the workplace. Otherwise, you have no claim.

You’ll need proof of your accident that led to overextension or proof of your occupational disease and how it came from your job. Keep in mind that occupational diseases are harder to prove since you can’t isolate one incident that caused your injury.

Overextension from lifting, pulling, holding, carrying and pushing can lead to many different injuries like these:

Back injuries: You may experience a mild strain or a serious spinal cord injury and have to go to physical therapy and/or get surgery.
Neck injuries: You could sprain your neck and need therapeutic massage, chiropractic care and physical therapy, or you’ll have to get injections and go on a special inflammatory diet.
Muscle strains: These could require physical therapy and prevent you from being able to work.
Heat exhaustion: Typically, if you’re working outside in the heat, you may experience this and need to take urine, blood and muscle function tests.
Joint, tendon, and connective tissue injuries: You could have to go in for treatment for joint dislocation, tendon tears and inflamed connective tissue.

If you work with a Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC workers’ compensation lawyer on your claim, you can improve your chances of getting benefits — and getting the full benefits available to you, so you can recover both physically and financially.

You can get a legal evaluation of your situation FOR FREE.

Starting An L&I Claim For Overextension In Washington

As soon as your accident occurs or you realize that you have an overextension injury, you should start your L&I claim in Washington.

This is what you have to do:

Report your injury or occupational disease to your supervisor and make sure you GET YOUR REPORT IN WRITING.
Get treatment from a doctor (make sure it’s a doctor who puts your interests first, and not just a company doctor).
Follow your doctor’s treatment orders.

L&I may try to give you less than you deserve, but an experienced workers’ comp attorney at Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC can fight to get you your maximum benefits.

Then, you can focus on healing, reduce your stress about money, and move forward with your life after a workplace injury. Contact an overextension attorney today at Bothwell Hamill & Sutton, PLLC.