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The healthcare sector is one of the largest industries in the U.S. economy. The industry has been growing rapidly in the past few years as the Baby Boomer generation is reaching retirement age and as Americans continue to live longer and require more intensive medical care. However, as the healthcare industry continues to boom, workers […]

Restaurant or food service workers face a wide range of injury hazards on the job. Many accidents suffered by restaurant workers could have been avoided or prevented. Fortunately, if a food service employee is injured on the job, they can file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Common Restaurant Worker Injuries Some of the most […]

Many workers in Washington State are classified as seasonal workers. Seasonal workers are employees who are hired for a limited portion of the year to work for a business that is only open for part of the year or to help a business accommodate seasonal demand. Workers are then let go by the employer at […]

If you miss time from work while recovering from a work-related injury or illness in Washington State, the workers’ compensation system entitles you to receive a portion of your lost wages. These benefits are paid by the Department of Labor & Industries or by your self-insured employer. Under the workers’ comp system, benefits do not […]

In the latest National Census of Fatal Occupational Industries, published in December 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were 4,764 work-related fatalities recorded nationwide in 2020, a 10.7 percent decrease from 2019. This figure represents a fatal work injury rate of 3.4 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers or one worker death […]

The summer months often see more injuries than at other times during the year. The increase in workplace accident rates can be attributed to several factors, including the fact that more hazardous injuries like construction, forestry, and agriculture ramp up their work in the summer, more workers enter the workforce to take advantage of summer […]

If you work in Washington State, you may wonder if your employer is required to provide you with workers’ compensation benefits in the event you are injured on the job or develop an occupational disease.  When is Workers’ Comp Required? Under Washington State law, every employer that has one or more employees are required to […]

Workplace injuries are unfortunately a common occurrence for employees in Washington State. When you have suffered serious injuries on the job, you may be left with long-term impairments or permanent disabilities that affect your ability to earn a living. As a worker in Washington State, you need to know what are some of the most […]

At Smith Duran Law, we are well aware of the dangers of COVID-19 and how it continues to impact health care and frontline workers across the state of Washington. We can help essential workers after they’ve contracted a contagious or infectious disease at work to secure their benefits in a workers’ compensation claim. Your employer […]