Filing a Workers' Comp Claim in Washington

A worker who is injured must report the accident to the employer, superintendent or supervisor forthwith (right away). L&I advises reporting to your employer as soon as possible; otherwise the employer may ask L&I to deny the claim. The employer must report the accident to L&I when the worker received treatment, was hospitalized, was disabled from work, or died. Employers may not engage in claim suppression.

An injury claim must be filed within one year after the day of the injury. Occupational disease claims must be filed within two years of receiving written notice from a health care provider that the condition exists and is work-related.

Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible, then file a State Fund Report of Industrial Injury or Occupational Disease with L&I: online at Lni.wa.gov/FileFast, by phone at 1-877-561-3453, or at your health care provider's office at your first visit.

A worker who disagrees with an L&I decision may send a written protest to L&I within 60 days of receiving it, or appeal directly to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals. An appeal to the Board must also be sent within 60 days of receiving L&I's decision. The Board, which is independent of L&I, holds hearings and issues a written decision, which can be appealed to Superior Court. Attorney fees are limited by law.

File a workers' comp claim with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) online through FileFast, by phone at 1-877-561-FILE (3453), or at your doctor's office, where the doctor files the Report of Accident for you. If your employer is self-insured, you must file with your employer. L&I or the self-insured employer must receive the Report of Accident within 1 year of the injury (2 years from diagnosis for occupational disease). Check your claim online through L&I's Claim & Account Center (Lni.wa.gov/ClaimInfo), or call L&I's Office of Information and Assistance at 1-800-547-8367.