A Washington worker can file a claim in Washington even if the injury occurs out of state. The claim won't be rejected because the injury happened out-of-state, even if your employer isn't paying premiums to Washington state.

You may file claims in both Washington and in the state or country in which you were injured, but any benefits you receive from another state will be credited against any benefits to which you may be eligible from L&I.

How to know if you’re a Washington worker

L&I considers you a worker of whatever state your employer has a place of business, if you regularly work at or from that place of business.

If your employer has a place of business in Washington and you regularly work at or from that place of business, you are a Washington worker.

If your employer's place of business is in another state other than Washington and you regularly work at or from that place of business, you are considered a worker of the state that place of business is located, and you aren't a Washington worker.

I don’t regularly work in a state where my employer has a place of business

If your employer doesn't have a place of business in the state where you work, you are considered a worker of the state you reside, if you work a substantial amount of time in the state where you reside.

If your home is in Washington and you work a substantial amount of time in Washington, you are a Washington worker.

If your home is in another state and you work a substantial amount of time in that state, then you are considered a worker in the state where you reside, and you aren't a Washington worker.

I don't work in a state where my employer has a place of business, I don’t work in the state I reside, or I work outside the United States

If your employer has no business location in the state you work and you don't live in the state you work, you will be a Washington worker only if your contract of hire was made in Washington.