“I called on my lunch break and Eliseo had the paperwork moving that afternoon. I never had to guess which form came next.”
Florencio M.
Workers' comp · Tri-Cities
Hurt at work? Tell us what happened.
Leticia Ruvalcaba represents people hurt in the orchards, warehouses, packing sheds and job sites around Pasco, Kennewick and Richland. Fill in the form, or call or text. Her office answers by the next business day, in English or Spanish.
What we take on
Three places a work injury claim gets stuck
Plenty of claims go smoothly. These are the three points where they tend to stall, and what we do at each one.
Hurt on the job
A fall from a ladder, a forklift that clipped you, a back that gave out lifting crates. We open the claim, push for your treatment to be approved and keep the time-loss checks coming.
Work injury claims
Claim denied or closed
A denial letter isn't the last word. We read why it was denied, gather the medical proof that was missing and file the protest or appeal before the deadline runs out.
Denied claims
Someone else caused it
If a driver, a contractor or a faulty machine caused the injury, you may have a second claim on top of workers' comp. We look into it from the first call.
Third-party claims
From clients
Workers who called before they signed anything
Shared with each client's permission. Every case is different, and none of these predicts how yours will end.
“My checks stopped after two months and nobody would tell me why. Leticia found the doctor's note they said was missing.”
Dalia R.“She walked me through the settlement offer in plain words and told me to wait until my treatment was done. Waiting was the right call.”
Trent W.
Questions
Asked on nearly every first call
Can I be fired for filing a claim?
Your employer can't punish you for reporting an injury or filing a claim. If your hours, pay or job changed after you reported it, tell us when you call and we'll talk through what can be done.
Do I need a lawyer for a workers' comp claim?
Plenty of claims go fine without one. Call us if your claim was denied, your checks stopped, you're being sent back before you're ready, or you've been offered a settlement. We'll tell you honestly if you can handle it alone.
How much does it cost?
The first review is free. If we take your case, our fee comes out of the benefits we recover for you, at a percentage the law limits and we put in writing. No fee unless we recover benefits. You may still owe case costs, such as medical record copies and exam fees, and we explain them before you sign.
I don't have papers. Can I still file?
In many states workers' comp covers you whatever your immigration status. We don't ask about status to take your call, and what you tell us stays confidential.
Can we talk in Spanish?
Yes. Leticia and Eliseo both speak Spanish, on the phone, by text and in the office.
Monday to Saturday
Call or text. A person picks up.
Weekdays from 8 in the morning, Saturdays until noon. After hours, leave a message or a text and we'll answer the next business day.