Washington is an economically important state and is responsible for the nation’s highest exports by volume. It is reassuring that most workers in Washington are covered by their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance in the event they suffer a work related injury or occupational disease. Washington has some unusual workers’ comp rules so if you are unsure whether you are actually protected at work or not it is better to find out before you have an accident or become sick at work. Employment in Washington As has been already mentioned, this Pacific northwest state is an economic powerhouse and annual average incomes are relatively high. Just over three million Washingtonians are employed somewhere in the state, with by far the greatest number desk bound or otherwise tied to an office job for a living. 14% of the workforce work in offices of all shapes and sizes. 10% are employed as sales assistants and in related occupations; 9% in food preparation and serving type jobs in the many cafes, restaurants and fast food outlets; 7% in transportation; 6% in production and just a few less are involved in business and financial occupations. How Washington Deals With Workers’ Comp Washington’s workers’ compensation laws require nearly every employer in the state to take out insurance to protect themselves from litigation and their employees from potential injury and illness. Insurance arrangements are unusual in Washington as it is one f the only four states in the country that has a state monopoly on insurance provision. Employers must insure through the state owned L& I (Labor and Industries) or self-insure if they have the financial resources to do so. As far as employees are concerned, only a few may not be covered by insurance. These include: Newspaper deliverers Real estate agents or brokers Beauticians or barbers with their own rented space Under 18 year olds employed n their family farm Domestic worker or gardener for a private home as long as only one person is employed Religious or charity workers not actually earning wages in money form How You Might be Affected by Workers’ Comp in Washington Let’ say as a hypothetical example that you are employed on an assembly line in a plant north of Seattle. A fault with the machinery sees you delving into its control panel trying to sort the problem out. As you put your hand and arm into the box, the machinery starts up gain and your hand is badly mangled, requiring extensive and complex surgery. You are unlikely to return to work any time soon and may never get back to exactly the same job. According to the law, your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance with L&I and you duly file a claim before the deadline of 1 year from the injury with L&I. The fact that you may have been partially to blame for the accident and injury (you had been instructed to turn the power off before investigating a fault) should have no effect on the payment as workers’ comp. is a no-fault arrangement. You should receive full compensation for all medical costs related to the injury and a potion of the lost wages while you are receiving treatment and recovering at home. Talk to an Attorney if Unsatisfied With the Way Your Claim is Going Although Washington has one pf the more enlightened workers’ compensation arrangements, you may still be unsure whether you are supposed to be covered by your employer’s insurance policy or if your employer is uninsured what you can do about it. This is where a workers’ comp attorney can provide advice and help negotiate a satisfactory settlement.
