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An injured employee must get medical help immediately
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).
Not an emergency? Encourage your employee to get medical treatment anyway. L&I will pay for the initial visit, even if the claim is not accepted. Get help Finding a Doctor.
Important: Most injured employees file their claim with the doctor when they are first seen. They have a right to:
- File the claim.
- Choose their doctor (according to RCW 51.36.010 (http://apps.LEG.wa.gov/)).
Employees also have the right to decide whether someone may accompany them to medical treatment, even on the initial visit. If a employee declines to have a company nurse, employer representative or any other person associated with the employer, 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 (http://apps.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.
