Workmans compensation - anyone gone through it?
The insurance company has offered me a monetary settlement (there are still some drs bills that have not been paid so I have been trying to contact the doc about the appeal she is filing and she never calls me back).
Now, the insurance company called me today and said they would like to close this record and if I take the settlement they offer they will pay up with the doc.
My husband thinks it sounds fishy. And wants us to sue.
I'm not that type of person, but his words keep lingering in the back of my mind.
I guess what I am looking for is anyone who has had a work injury did you take the settled amount and all was well, or did you see a lawyer?
I'm not working right now so I would like to avoid any lawyer fees if I can.
Quoting mommy6xs:
Something like that, always take it to a lawyer. A consultation is cheaper then 1000s of $s in dr bills down the road.
get an atty...most don't charge if you have a case....you never know if complications are going to come up a year down the road....seriously..i got bit by a dog on my hand..i got a lawyer...i dunno if i'm going to have arthritis in my hand since my hand is prone to it anyways..the dog hit a knuckle bone in my hand...it still hurts altho there are no marks left...pain and suffering, emotional trauma..future problems...consult an atty, it won't hurt
This particular injury I actually had a "loss of use" and had to get rehabilitative services.
Quoting triforcechick:
I was knocked off the top of an 8ft ladder at work. They paid my dr bills, but that was it. I went to the dr once and had an X-ray to make sure my elbow wasn't broken.
His case is diff from your tho, so I dont knw... Follow your gut, get a free consult.
Yep, been there done that. My husband is still not "fixed" and won't ever be. 2 years ago he hurt his back at work. They said it was a strain/sprain and would be better within 2 weeks and gave him meds. It didn't get better, at all. He went to a specialist, had MRI's tried physical therapy ( which ended up doing more damage and had to be stopped) The back specialist that THEY ( the insur co) sent him to said he has a severe injury to L3L4&L5 of his back and that it would require surgery. Well, they denied it, over and over again. Finally they sent him to a designated doctor who said, Yes he was permanently injured. gave him restrictions such as- No bending, stooping, lifting, twisting, or picking up over 2 pounds. Yet he gave him a 0% for his whole body injury (WTF?!) His reasoning was that while my hubs could never do manual labor again, he could surly operate a phone to obtain work. My husband was a truck driver, not a receptionist. So, that said, the insurance company got off the hook for any indemnity ( what it is called here instead of a settlement, because there is NO settlements. You are only paid based of your percentage of injury like if he were at 4% it would be 4,000) They also said no, that specialist they sent him to was wrong, it's just a strain/sprain because that's what the very first doctor thought it was at first.
Anyway, I could go on and on, but I will tell you that it is a normal thing for them to offer a settlement. You need to make sure you are comfortable with the terms. Usually they sneak in there that you will be waiving any future medical care for that specific injury. They will lowball you, usually if you decline they will give you another figure, a little higher, but not always. While you could get a lawyer, it may not help too terribly much in the long run. Yes, they do take your case on free of retainer, but they will get a huge chunk of your settlement for simply being a sounding board. My advice is to take a settlement, but have them leave future medical open. It may reduce what they offer, but if you have any future problems stemming from that injury it will be covered.
Word to the wise insurance companies ALWAYS push for the strain/sprain injury, even if it is not. The doctors they send you to know this. I know I sound very "conspiracy theoryish" but I am serious. Our lawyer even stated this. If you ask someone injured at work about it, unless it's a major in your face injury, the majority will tell you "Oh they said it was a strain/sprain). Which is funny cause my hubs was injured 2 years ago, and is not allowed to lift over 2lbs to this day, was told by the dr he is permanently injured, yet it's still a strain/sprain. I never knew a sprain lasted for the rest of your life....There is an injured workers forum that can help you out greatly, search for that.
Quoting crwspringer:
The injury was technically catagorized as a sprain. I don't really see many chances of it reoccurring especially since I won't be doing that type of work anymore.
Quoting mommy6xs:
Something like that, always take it to a lawyer. A consultation is cheaper then 1000s of $s in dr bills down the road.
So I know they aren't trying to screw me with catagorizing my injury.
Quoting heyma4:Word to the wise insurance companies ALWAYS push for the strain/sprain injury, even if it is not. The doctors they send you to know this. I know I sound very "conspiracy theoryish" but I am serious. Our lawyer even stated this. If you ask someone injured at work about it, unless it's a major in your face injury, the majority will tell you "Oh they said it was a strain/sprain). Which is funny cause my hubs was injured 2 years ago, and is not allowed to lift over 2lbs to this day, was told by the dr he is permanently injured, yet it's still a strain/sprain. I never knew a sprain lasted for the rest of your life....There is an injured workers forum that can help you out greatly, search for that.
Quoting crwspringer:
The injury was technically catagorized as a sprain. I don't really see many chances of it reoccurring especially since I won't be doing that type of work anymore.
Quoting mommy6xs:
Something like that, always take it to a lawyer. A consultation is cheaper then 1000s of $s in dr bills down the road.
Am I wrong for not giving a F**** that hes dying?
- crwspringer
on May. 25, 2012 at 2:06 AM