Legal Question in Workers Comp in Washington

permanent partial disability award

I have a permanent partial disability due to (Lisfranks ligament injury / choharts joint dislocation with fusion surgery) I have had 2 IME's. the first rated my foot injury at 49% , muscle atrophy, change of gait, permanent use of cane, and low lumbar which causes nerve pain down my leg at 20% whole body. The second IME, came in at 21% for atrophy, change of gait, cane use, and deferred the foot rating and low lumbar back to the first IME doctor rating. Now L&I is stalling and has stated that this rating is ''astronomical''! It has been 8 weeks since the last IME, and cannot get any information, except that they need clarification. Is there a time limit for L&I to offer award for PPD? Tired of being bullied.


Asked on 10/19/07, 7:00 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Paul Bryan Paul W. Bryan, Attorney at Law

Re: permanent partial disability award

There is not a statutory time frame or deadline and they do not suffer from delaying. Often they will have their in house doc review and then close low. Does your attending physician agree with the IME ratings? If your doc agrees you have a great case regardless of what the DLI review doc might say. Hound the crap out of them to issue you an order and if it's low, appeal the order. I would not go to any more IMEs - don't let them shop doctors for a low rating! You shouldn't hire a lawyer until you know they are lowballing you. You don't want to pay fees you don't have to If you have questions I will be glad to elaborate.

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Answered on 10/22/07, 12:42 am


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