Get Medical Help

An injured employee must get immediate medical care

Emergency medical care

Call 911 immediately if there's an emergency on-the-job injury. L&I will pay for your employee's emergency transportation and care (the request for reimbursement must be in writing).

Important: Most injured employees file their claim with the doctor when they are first seen.

Death, probable death, or in-patient hospitalizations

In case of death, probable death,
or in-patient hospitalizations

Employers must report to L&I within 8 hours the death, probable death, or the in-patient hospitalization of any employee due to an on-the job injury by calling 1‑800‑423‑7233.

See L&I Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) rule, Accident Reporting and Investigation Reports.

Non-emergency medical care

Encourage your employee to get medical treatment even if the injury doesn't require emergency care. L&I will pay for the initial visit for any on-the-job injury. Get help Finding a Doctor.

Rights of injured employees

They have a right to:

• File a claim.
• Choose their doctor (according to RCW 51.36.010 (www.leg.wa.gov)).
• Decide who, if anyone, may accompany them to medical treatment even on the initial visit. You must accept that decision.

You may contact the medical provider after treatment is rendered to request information about work restrictions.

Employer's Report of Accident

Make sure you complete the Employer's Report of Accident promptly. This is your first (and in some ways the most important) chance to let L&I know your side of the story, especially if you question the validity of an injury claim. Provide as much information as you can, and don't just repeat the employee's statements. An objective in-house investigation can really help.

Sign up to file the Employer's Report of Accident at the secure Claim & Account Center.

Act promptly - timeliness is important

Don't delay. If an injured employee files a claim accompanied by a doctor's certification for time-loss benefits, L&I must send the first check within 14 days. That's the law (www.leg.wa.gov).

Employers have less than 14 days in time-loss cases to decide whether to keep the employee on salary or provide light-duty work.