All workplaces experience accidents from time to time, but the fact is that some jobs are riskier than others. In Portland employer’s workers’ compensation covers most employees so if you have an accident you can expect to receive most of your wages and medical costs. However, if an employer fails to cover you as an employee you may still be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to claim loss of wages and the cost of medical treatment. You should talk to an attorney if you are denied workers’ compensation or you think you are eligible to file a personal injury claim. Choosing a Workers’ Comp. Attorney in Portland There are a large number of attorneys who are based in or close to Portland, Oregon, but it is best to choose an attorney who is both licensed as an Oregon based attorney as well as one who specializes in both workers’ compensation and personal injury law. There are at least 120 attorneys in the Portland area that handle workers’ comp., so it’s not difficult to find one to help you with the legal aspects of your case. If you decide that you will have to file a personal injury claim instead, a workers’ compensation lawyer is still the best choice as they will have had the appropriate experience dealing with insurers. Common Injuries at Work in Portland, Oregon All workplaces in Portland do have some sort of risk attached to working in them, even if it is a sudden slip and fall on a slippery floor or tripping on an unexpected obstacle that’s not usually there. The Bureau of Labor Statistics* indicates that, for Portland, trade, transportation, and utilities, education and health services are the commonest accident hotspots, making up 46 percent of the non-fatal injuries. Transportation injuries could be caused by defective vehicles or driver error while in the education and health sectors attacks on staff, stress and fatigue could lead to poor judgment while moving from place to place causing unexpected accidents and their associated injuries. The Workers’ Compensation Procedure in Portland Most employees in Oregon are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Those workers who are not usually covered include people working in private homes, doing work such as cleaning, gardening, home health care and maintenance work. If an employer only pays $500 in total over 30 days workers’ comp. coverage is not applicable. The Workers Compensation Division (WCD) administers Oregon workers’ compensation scheme. If you are injured you should inform your employer quickly and it should provide you with an 801 claim form which you need to complete. Sometimes simply letting your employer know of your injury is sufficient to trigger a workers’ compensation claim. On occasions a claim is denied, if you have failed to provide written notice within sixty days of the occurrence of your injury. In this case you will need to talk to a Portland lawyer to advise you on the next step you should take. Typically, if your employer seriously believes your condition didn’t happen at work and won’t support your WC claim you may do better to pursue a personal injury claim as long as you have the proof to prove your injury was due to a condition in your workplace. This will require the help of a Portland personal injury lawyer. File your petition at the East County Courthouse in SE Stark St., Portland. It is open from 8.30 a.m. through to 4 p.m. every weekday except for public holidays. Your attorney will advise you what to include with your petition. Use a Free Claim Evaluation to Find a Suitable Portland-Based Attorney There are good reasons why you should get experienced legal assistance from a Portland based licensed workers’ comp. attorney. Because there are many to choose from, you can use our free claim evaluation form to the left-hand side of this page. to help you select the best attorney to assist you with your claim in Portland, OR. Additional Resources Applying for Workers' Comp in Oregon Denied Workers' Compensation in Oregon? *Source: bls.gov/regions/west/newsrelease/workplaceinjuriesandillnesses_oregon.htm
