CCD Law protects workers on local farms, orchards, and ranches when they’ve been hurt on the job. We can help them hold employers responsible for the time they must miss at work. We can help victims earn more from Washington’s workers’ comp.
Please contact us for a free case consultation to find out what your case is worth and how to earn the most from Washington State administrators. There is no obligation for this information session with a real lawyer.
Deciding If You Could Benefit from a Spokane Workers’ Comp Lawyer’s Help
Plenty of workers suffer minor aches or bruising, maybe miss a few days of work, and do fine by filing a Workers’ Comp claim themselves.
But when injuries are more severe, the hospital bills grow, and the victim miss more time at work. This makes getting the right amount in Workers’ Comp benefits critical for victims and their families.
It’s all the more important that victims document their needs and tell the full story to Washington State administrators so they receive enough for right now, and enough to help them in the future.
There are several ways that a Spokane Workers’ Comp Lawyer can help victims reach a better outcome with the state.
- Conducts a full investigation into a farm or ranch accident.
- Collects testimony and documentation from your doctors so that the full scope of your injury and recovery time is understood.
- Uses this evidence to fight back if an Independent Medical Examination (IME) gets a diagnosis and assessment wrong.
- Your lawyer also files your Workers’ Comp claim for you, making sure complicated paperwork is filed out correctly and submitted on time.
- Stand up on your behalf before Workers’ Compensation administrators and judges to make sure the full story about what happened to you and how you’ve been coping.
- Through negotiation, your lawyer can often earn you much more in weekly benefits than you could win yourself. This should be enough in support that lasts as long as you are dealing with pain.
- Stands up for you if an employer illegally threatens you for reporting an injury or unsafe work condition.
- CCD Law can also help farmworkers file an appeal if they’ve been denied support on a first attempt.
Workers can always choose to file a Washington Workers’ Compensation claim themselves. But a lawyer is often a valuable protection to have when going up against employers and the state.
You should seek a lawyer’s help if you feel your injuries aren’t being taken seriously by your employer, or if Workers’ Comp administrators aren’t offering you enough.
Workers’ Comp Support Available for Spokane Area Farmworkers
In Washington, all employers are required to pay into Workers’ Compensation insurance. Employees also pay into the program through paycheck deductions. When farmworkers get hurt at work, they can draw from the state fund for Workers’ Compensation.
A skilled Spokane Farm and Agriculture Injury Lawyer would be demanding these and other benefits from Workers’ Comp:
- All Medical Expenses. Health care services are provided until your work-related injury has stabilized and reached a point where further recovery is not expected.
- Time-Loss Benefits. This reimburses you for a percentage of the paychecks you miss while you can’t work. The percentage would be between 60% and 75% of your normal pay, including some benefits you receive. The figure depends partly on your marital status and how many children you have. Compensation would come in benefit checks every two weeks.
- Travel Expenses. Reimbursement for costs if you must travel over 15 miles to see doctors or to receive vocational retraining.
- Injury Home Renovations. Money to modify your vehicle or your home to adapt to the needs of a serious injury.
- Permanent partial disability or permanent disability benefits if you suffer a lifelong injury.
- Vocational services. Help pay for training or education if your injuries prevent you from returning to your former farm work duties.
- Survivor benefits. Families can earn support for the future after a loved one is tragically killed in a workplace accident. A skilled attorney can represent the family and help ensure they receive everything they need to avoid financial issues in the years ahead.
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) guidebook for injured workers provides more important information on the benefits farmworkers can receive.
The Recent Statistics Behind Farm Worker Accidents in Washington
Washington State is a major contributor to the nation’s food supply. Eastern Washington is known for growing wheat, cherries, and grapes. The region also sees plenty of workers arriving on dairy farms and cattle ranches each day.
A look at the rates of accidents in our state and across the nation can show the growing scope of the dangers these farmworkers face.
The most recent statistics released by Washington’s L&I showed that the number of injured farm workers rose between 2023 and 2024. 5.2 local workers per 100 workers in crop production reported injury in the state in 2024. These are farm workers who missed time at work, had to be transferred to another job due to injury, or faced job restrictions.
The 2024 figures were up from 2023 reporting when 4.8 workers in crop production reported injuries that kept them out of work, or forced them to work with restrictions.
The CDC reports on farm worker injuries across the United States:
- In 2022, workers in the Agricultural, forestry, hunting, and fishing industries in the U.S. saw a fatality rate of 18.6 deaths per 100,000 workers in these fields.
- Between 2021 and 2022, 21,020 injuries in agricultural production required days away from work. Almost a third of those injuries were due to falls on the job.
The Hazards Behind Farmworker Injury Statistics
In the section above, we’ve already mentioned the dangers of falls suffered by farmworkers. This can include victims falling from a great height off platforms in barns and warehouses. They might simply slip and fall on a puddle in a barnyard and fracture a vertebra.
The CDC reports that agricultural workers are often hurt in transportation accidents and in accidents involving heavy equipment. Workers might be hurt on ranches after an unpredictable action from livestock. They can suffer harm due to exposure to extreme Washington weather.
They can also develop health issues slowly due to exposure to harmful substances such as mold, fertilizers, and pesticides.
It’s been well established that farm worker injuries go greatly under-reported each year. The statistics above only show part of the problem.
Many victims work through pain and stay silent because they fear they’ll lose their jobs or be reported to immigration officials if they speak up. At CCD Law, we want all farm workers to know they can count on Workers’ Comp benefits when they are injured. We also want to inform injured agricultural workers that they are protected from threats and retaliation by strong state laws.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive Workers’ Comp benefits in Washington State if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
Yes, all farm workers are protected by Workers’ Comp in Washington. Their immigration or citizenship status does not prevent them from getting help when they are injured. All workers pay into Workers’ Comp insurance, and all employers must pay into Workers’ Comp insurance. Support is available to all workers on ranches, farms, and orchards. The Workers’ Comp department also won’t ask about immigration status when processing claims and awarding benefits.
What if a farm owner or an agricultural company threatens me when I try to report an injury?
Washington State protects all workers from retaliation after reporting a workplace injury. Employers cannot threaten to fire an injured worker or terminate their jobs for filing a claim. An owner or operator would also be in big trouble if they tried to suppress or discourage a Workers’ Comp Filing. Employers are also prohibited from threatening to report workers to immigration officials for speaking up about an injury. CCD Law would take legal action on behalf of our clients. Employers who threaten injured employees can face large fines and ongoing investigations for violations. They may also be ordered to rehire employees they’ve let go and fully compensate their injury claims.
How long do I have to file a claim over a workplace injury in Spokane?
First, you should report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. Then, injury claims to Washington State Workers’ Comp must be filed within one year of the injury. Occupational disease claims must be filed within two years of learning of the condition.
How Do I File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Washington?
Injured farmworkers can file injury claims by phone or even at their doctor’s office after being examined and diagnosed with an injury. To file a complaint online, victims can go to the L&I website here. They’ll need to create a User ID and password. When victims have a lawyer handling their case, the lawyer makes sure these documents are completed on time and submitted with proper evidence.
Contact a Spokane Farmworker Injury Attorney
Schedule a free case consultation with CCD Law after you’ve been hurt on the job while working for a farm or in any agricultural role.
We can answer any questions you have about your case and what you should be demanding in support. The best part is there’s no obligation after you sit down and go over your case with us.
However, if you decide we can help you earn more in Workers’ Comp support for the months ahead, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay a lawyer. We work for injured workers and their families on a contingency basis. It means we aren’t paid unless we win the case for you. Then, our lawyer’s fee comes out of the check Washington’s Workers’ Comp administrators write for you.