If you’re a work injury claimant, you may need to hire a workers compensation attorney. In Washington State, we sometimes use the term L&I attorney instead. If you’re concerned about L&I attorney fees — you’re not alone. The cost of hiring an L&I attorney can be stressful for workers. In…

After a work injury or occupational disease, workers with permanent total disability can receive an L&I pension. An L&I pension is like a lifetime annuity. Workers receive pension payments every month. Moreover, L&I pension benefits continue for the life of the worker. Sometimes, work injury claimants ask what happens after…

Many times, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) makes incorrect decisions. The same is true in self-insured claims. When this happens, it’s important to file a claim protest. If the L&I claim protest isn’t successful, we proceed to file an L&I claim appeal. L&I claim protest versus claim appeal Usually, L&I makes an initial decision…

Some work injury claimants have 2, 3 or more L&I claims. In fact, you’d be surprised how many people have more than 1 workman’s compensation claim. Sometimes, you can combine multiple L&I claims into one. In legal terms, when you combine multiple claims into one, we call it “claim consolidation”…

Are you familiar with the SIMP program? SIMP is an abbreviation for Structured Intensive Multidisciplinary Program. More simply, it’s a chronic pain management program. L&I regularly refers work injury claimants to SIMP during L&I claims. In fact, L&I recommends SIMP for chronic pain when workers don’t respond to conservative care. What is the SIMP program in L&I claims? …

The Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals is a state agency in Washington State. Some people refer to it as the Board of Appeals, the Board, or BIIA. Interestingly, it behaves somewhat like a court. As such, it decides the outcome of L&I disputes. Workman’s comp claim appeal and the board The Board is separate and independent from…

If a worker has an L&I claim, then their employer might offer them light duty work. However, a light-duty job offer must be valid. Work injury claimants who refuse valid light duty work can no longer receive wage replacement benefits. …

Can work injury claimants pay out-of-pocket and get reimbursed later? For example, say I have an L&I claim. I need medication, massages, and braces. I also need therapeutic furniture, equipment, and medical procedures. So, can I just go ahead and pay? And then ask for reimbursement later? …

On occasion, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) asks work injury claimants to fill a “Treating Provider List”. Usually, L&I sends a brief cover letter explaining why they it. Most commonly, it’s because L&I doesn’t know if they should cover a condition under your L&I claim. Treating Provider List Filling out the…