Workplace Injury Lawyer in Tacoma, WA
Results-Focused Work Injury Lawyer in Washington State Pursue Workers’ Comp Benefits and Other Financial Recovery for Injured Workers in King County, Lewis County, Pierce County, Thurston County, and Throughout WA
Have you been hurt at work? When you have suffered a work injury, you may have options under Washington law to recover compensation that can help you get the medical treatment and rehabilitation you need and make up for lost wages if you miss time from work. One of our Tacoma-based workplace injury lawyers at Smith Duran Law can guide you through your rights to pursue legal claims after sustaining a work injury.
Turn to Smith Duran Law for legal aid regarding your injury case in Tacoma. Our workplace injury lawyers have years of experience representing the interests of people recovering from work injuries. We strive to offer compassionate, dedicated legal representation because we understand the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of an injury that our clients experience. At our firm, you will never be treated like just another claim number. Let us help you obtain the financial recovery and benefits that you are entitled to under the law.
After you have been injured on the job, reach out to a workplace injury lawyer in Tacoma, Washington from Smith Duran Law as soon as possible for a free initial consultation. Our Tacoma-based legal aid team can help you better understand your legal options when you have been hurt at work.
Common Types of Workplace Injuries in Washington State
At Smith Duran Law, examples of some of the kinds of work injuries that we have helped clients recover from include:
- Construction worker injuries
- Industrial work injuries
- Occupational diseases
- Slip/trip and fall injuries, such as sprains, dislocated joints, or broken bones
- Overexertion injuries, such as ligament sprains, muscle/tendon strains, tears, or herniated disc injuries
- Burns or smoke inhalation injuries from fires and explosions
- Electrocution injuries
- Exposure to toxic or hazardous substances, viruses, or bacteria
- Weather exposure injuries, including sunburn, heatstroke, hypothermia, or frostbite
- Crush or entanglement injuries, including internal injuries and bleeding, bone fractures, or traumatic amputation
- Collision injuries, including collisions with vehicles or with falling objects, such as head and traumatic brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries and paralysis
What Are Your Legal Rights after Suffering a Work Injury?
If you have been injured on the job, you may have multiple options for obtaining financial compensation that can help you in your medical recovery. Under Washington law, if you suffer a work-related injury you may be entitled to benefits from the state workers’ compensation system. Workers’ compensation in Washington state is considered a “no-fault” system, meaning that you are entitled to benefits for a work injury regardless of who caused it or who may be at fault for your injury. Workers’ compensation benefits may include:
- Medical benefits that provide treatment and rehabilitation for your work injury
- Reimbursement of qualifying travel expenses to and from medical appointments or procedures
- Reimbursement for personal property that was damaged or lost in a work accident
- Partial wage replacement after missing time from work due to a qualifying injury
- Disability payments for permanent impairment to a limb or body party
- Pension benefits for a worker who is permanently disabled from doing any form of gainful employment
- Vocational training to help an injured or partially disabled worker get into a new line of work
If your work injury was caused by a negligent or reckless third party or by defective work equipment, you may have the right to pursue a third-party injury claim against liable parties outside of your employer’s organization. A personal injury claim can help you recover compensation for:
- Medical treatment/rehabilitation and long-term care for permanent disabilities
- Full reimbursement of lost wages, as well as future, anticipated earnings if you have been permanently disabled
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced life expectancy or quality of life because of disabilities or visible disfigurement and scarring from a work injury
Why Turn to a Work Injury Lawyer in Washington State after Being Hurt in a Workplace Accident?
If you were injured at work, you deserve to receive workers’ compensation benefits and potentially other financial compensation that can help you with your recovery. However, pursuing your legal rights after a work accident is not always a simple matter. While you are focused on your treatment and rehabilitation, let a work injury lawyer in Tacoma from Smith Duran Law help you get the financial resources you need by thoroughly investigating your claim, evaluating your legal options, preparing and filing claim paperwork on your behalf, and advocating for your rights in claims hearings or in court when necessary.
Contact Our Firm for a Free Consultation to Discuss Your Rights with a Work Injury Lawyer in Washington State
Don’t wait to speak with a work injury lawyer in Tacoma state if you have been injured in the course and scope of your employment. Contact Smith Duran Law for a free, no-obligation case review to learn more about how our firm can assist you with pursuing a workers’ compensation claim or another claim for compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Work Injury in Washington State
Under Washington state workers’ compensation law, you have one year from the date that you were injured on the job to report your injury to your employer and to file a formal workers’ compensation claim with the Washington Department of Labor and Industries. If you file a claim more than a year after suffering a work injury, your workers’ compensation claim may be denied as untimely.
Not necessarily. Workers’ compensation covers any injury that a worker suffers in the course and scope of their employment. This means that a worker does not need to be on their employer’s premises when they suffer a work injury. Someone may suffer a work injury while visiting a client site for their employer or when driving in between an employer’s locations, or when traveling for work.
When a workplace accident results in a third-party lawsuit the timeframe before you are able to collect compensation can vary. A 3rd party lawsuit is a type of personal injury claim that can take anywhere from a few months to a few years before it’s settled. The length of time will depend largely on several factors from finding a good lawyer, steps to collect all your medical records and expenses connected to your injury, and determining whether your case can be settled or if it will need to go to trial. If the lawsuit goes to trial, you will be looking at a longer wait-time. However, it’s best to be patient, because if you settle too soon, you may not recover nearly the amount you are legitimately entitled to for your injuries and damages.
Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
The Department of Labor and Industries manages claims for injuries at work. You are entitled to money for lost wages, medical treatment, vocational retraining, loss of body function, and in some cases a pension.
LEARN MOREPersonal Injury Attorney
If your injury was caused by someone other than a co‑worker, an auto accident, or defective equipment, you may be entitled to additional compensation. Our personal injury attorney in Tacoma will evaluate your case.
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