As an employer, you have a vested interest in the safety and well-being of your workers, and you do your best to make the work environment as safe as possible. Unfortunately, work-related injuries and occupational illnesses happen in almost all industries. Employers in Washington State are required to carry workers’ compensation coverage to ensure that workers injured on the job receive the medical treatment they need as well as partial wage replacement when appropriate.

In Washington, the workers’ compensation program is administered by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), though some employers are eligible for self-insurance. Regardless of which option you use, having sound legal counsel helps the system function fairly and efficiently for everyone’s protection.

At Employer Solutions Law, our workers’ compensation lawyers dedicate their practice to helping you protect your employees. We help you navigate the system, manage claim costs, and prevent fraud that hurts claimants with a legitimate need. Contact us to learn how we can help your company.

Workers’ Compensation Defense and Guidance

Our entire practice and team are dedicated to working with employers throughout Washington State, including on workers’ compensation defense and related issues. We take a proactive and holistic approach to working with employers, third-party administrators, and retrospective rating groups.

Our services include:

• Providing training for employers on workers’ compensation law and procedures and ensuring compliance with applicable law
• Protecting employers’ rights during safety inspections
• Advising employers throughout the claim process, from documentation and reporting of the injury through the initial L&I investigation, claim determination, return-to-work process, and resolution.
• Advocating for employers in communications with the Department of Labor and Industries
• Representing employers in appeals to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals or Superior Court

When an Employer Should Seek Legal Help with Workers’ Compensation

Proactively seeking legal help can help you keep claim costs manageable and ensure that benefits go where they are most needed. You may need a workers’ compensation attorney when:

• A claimant has an unusually high number of prior claims
• There is reason to believe a claimant is trying to take advantage of the system
• Multiple different conditions are being contended on the same claim
• A third-party administrator recommends an attorney’s involvement on the claim
• The claim is complex
• The Department of Labor and Industries fails to take proper action
• The claim has an appeal before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals or Superior Court

In general, it’s appropriate to contact workers’ compensation lawyers for guidance any time you feel that you need help to deal with a claim, or when something just doesn’t seem right and you need an experienced perspective.

Experienced Employer-Side Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

The great majority of workers’ compensation claims are legitimate, but some are inappropriately broad and a few are outright fraudulent. The fact is that a small percentage of Washington workers’ compensation cases account for a disproportionately large percentage of claim costs. If your instinct tells you that the claim is suspicious, the time to investigate it is early in the life of the claim. This is the critical time when action can truly impact the outcome of the claim, before Department decisions become final and binding.

Employer Solutions Law is focused solely on legal services for employers, third-party administrators, and retrospective rating groups. Not only do we have decades of experience representing employers, but many on our team represented claimants (employees) before joining our firm. This deep understanding of both sides of the workers' compensation system sets us apart.