CCD Law stands up for workers hurt on the job, including those injured in scaffolding accidents. We make sure injured workers receive full support with their medical bills and support for their families while they can’t work.
Contact CCD Law if you are hurt due to a scaffolding fall or any other scaffolding accident. We offer a free, confidential case consultation to all Eastern Washington victims. There’s never any obligation for this case review.
When Do I Need a Lawyer for My Workers’ Comp Claim
If your scaffolding accident leaves you with a serious injury, say broken bones, a head injury, or a joint injury, it’s a good idea to speak to a lawyer.
With a serious injury, the stakes are much higher. You’ll likely miss many more hours at work. You’ll have more medical bills in the mailbox. Your injury could affect your ability to work the rest of your life. Hopefully Workers’ Comp administrators and judges realize what you’ve been through and what you may go through in the future.
But your support is never guaranteed, and every worker receives different levels of support.
A skilled Spokane Construction Accident Attorney investigates your accident and collects all evidence. That includes documents and testimony from medical experts about how long you could suffer with your injury.
Reasons to Get Legal Protection
Your lawyer makes sure administrators know the full story of what happened to you so they can award a suitable amount to help you rebuild your life. You can often earn much more with the help of an experienced lawyer.
It’s also a great idea to have a skilled lawyer on your side if your employer…
- Refuses to acknowledge your injury
- Refuses to help you file a claim with the state
- Brings in company lawyers for your case
- Intimidates you, trying to convince you not to file
- Threatens to fire you if you report your injury
- Threatens to report you to immigration officials if you are undocumented
You can also talk to a lawyer, even if you’ve begun the Workers’ Comp process. If you realize that you aren’t going to receive the support you need to live off of, contact CCD Law immediately.
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Washington
Call for an ambulance if you are hurt.
Ideally, you want to alert your employer to your accident as soon as possible. Alert them no matter how minor you think your injuries are. Fall injuries can be masked by the shock of what happened, but the next day the pain may be unbearable.
You are allowed to file your own claim, with the help of your employer.
You would file one of three ways. 1. Online with the FileFast tool. 2.By phone at 1-877-561-FILE (3453).
Or 3. At the Doctor’s office. You would complete the “Report of Accident” form, and your doctor would submit it for you. When you go see a doctor for the first time after a scaffolding accident, it’s important to alert them to the nature of your accident. You should say that you are there because of a workplace accident.
The Information You’ll Need to File a Claim
The Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries (L&I) also suggests having this information with you when you file:
- Location where the injury occurred.
- Contact information for any witnesses to the injury.
- Employer information.
- Wage information.
- Names and birth dates of your dependents.
- If you have already seen a doctor:
- Your doctor’s first and last name.
- Hospital or clinic where you received treatment.
Scaffolding Safety Hazards
Scaffolding usually implies working at heights that can be dangerous. This temporary structure of poles and wood planks is used on construction sites. It’s also essential for painters, window washers, and in some agricultural work.
Employers are supposed to meet certain standards to keep workers safe, but sometimes these requirements are ignored, and employees get hurt. With Workers’ Comp claims, there is usually no fault assigned. Workers usually earn support even if their own carelessness caused an accident.
But in some cases, employers can also be sued when their negligence rises above the normal dangers of working above the ground.
Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 296-874 goes into the level of care employers sending workers up on platforms should show:
(1) The employer must protect each employee on a scaffold from falling ten feet or more to a lower level, by providing either:
(a) A personal fall arrest system; or
(b) Guardrails.
(2) The employer must ensure personal fall arrest systems are attached by a lanyard to one of the following:
(a) Vertical lifeline;
(b) Horizontal lifeline; or
(c) Appropriate structural member of the scaffold.
If necessary, a skilled attorney can help show the violations in the workplace that lead to terrible accidents.
The Support You Can Earn Through Workers’ Comp
A Workplace Accident lawyer fights to make sure workers don’t run out of money before their treatment ends and before they are able to return to work.
A Workers’ Comp claim should provide these benefits and more for as long as necessary:
- Medical benefits. All medical bills pertaining to the injury paid in full. That includes physical therapy sessions.
- Time-Loss Compensation. Wage replacement for workers while they are too hurt to perform their job duties. The checks will be 60% to 70% of the victim’s weekly pay based on how many dependents they have.
- Permanent Partial Disability. An award for those who complete treatment and are still able to work, but have suffered a permanent loss of function.
- Pensions – Permanent Total Disability. Victims may receive a monthly pension if they are certified as permanently and totally disabled before L&I closes the Workers’ Comp claim, along with a few other criteria.
- Vocational Training. Help with training for a new career if the victim’s injuries won’t let them return to their previous job.
- Death Benefits. Support for families who lose a loved one to a fatal scaffolding accident. Also known as “survivor benefits.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report a scaffolding accident in Washington State?
Victims should alert their employers as soon as possible. The deadline to file a Workers’ Comp claim with Washington’s L&I for a sudden injury is generally up to one year from the accident date.
Can I file for Workers’ Comp If I Am Not a Citizen of the U.S.?
Yes. In Washington State, almost all workers are eligible for injury benefits through Workers’ Compensation. The worker’s immigration status or citizenship status does not matter.
How can I afford to hire a lawyer after getting hurt at work?
CCD Law works on a contingency agreement for injured workers. It means there are zero upfront costs. We start work immediately. We are only paid if we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the benefits you are awarded.
Contact a Spokane Workers’ Compensation Lawyer As Soon As Possible.
Many workers get hurt, start to worry, and never learn about every benefit that is available to them.
CCD Law invites every injured worker to call us and set up a free, no-obligation case consultation. It’s a completely confidential meeting with a real lawyer. Let’s go over what your injury should be worth and how to secure the care you and your family need from Workers’ Comp.
We can also go over your case if you’ve already been denied by Workers’ Comp. Let’s go over your options for an appeal.