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While working within the State of Washington, if you suffer a work related injury or an occupationally related disease, you are entitled to certain benefits under Washington's Industrial Insurance Act/Workers' Compensation system. The primary goal of the workers' compensation system is to provide maximum reasonable and necessary medical benefits, which will likely result in some significant reduction in the impairment or disability caused by the work related injury or occupationally related disease. Washington's workers' compensation system is administered by the Department of Labor and Industries.
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Permanent Partial Disability
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At the time the Department of Labor and Industries believes you have reached maximum medical improvement, it will attempt to determine whether you have suffered: any permanent partial disability. This determination is done by a physician. If there is , permanent partial disability associated with your injury or disease, you are entitled to an .award for the disability. Although these awards are paid strictly according to a statutory schedule of benefits, doctors who rate permanent impairment must interpret some ambiguous regulations. For this reason, medical opinions on permanent impairment frequently vary widely. Often times your employer or the Department of Labor and Industries uses conservative semi-retired doctors to conduct these rating determinations that can appear biased against the injured worker. An attorney can assist in obtaining another evaluation of your disability and a more fair rating of impairment, which may result in more adequate compensation for your injuries.
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