Helpful if More Post

[KBomar]

IT would be more helpful to have more people post their stories, their ratings, their settlements and so on.

If they are given a rating of say what % two differant DR's give then they could compare.................maybe even the % they or their lawyers agreed at or what the judge placed it.

Even if the % is posted with their story they could list anything such as open or future medical or retraining or ssdi.

Know what I mean?

Is that forbidden? no one say to use to much information on their case and even if they did so what there is 1,000's of cases everyday that settle.

The main or one of these reasons I mention this is because, thru this site I have learned about re-training. Before I didn't know it was something there to help hurt people get back to work...

[RDS]

IT would be more helpful to have more people post their stories,

The reason I like this Idea is that the laws are written, but not enforced. It is good to know the laws, but it is better to know what really happens in the real world.
I read books and the NC industrial commission web site all the time only to find that no one follows those rules.

Our resident experts keep telling us to learn the rules. We learn them and follow them only to find that the pros pull the rug out from under us by their dirty tricks and high powered lawyers.
What I want to know is what really happened.

I know the rules state that you were suppose to get a settlement, but did you really get one?

I know what a FCE is suppose to be for, but what really happened when you got the test?

I know the doctor told you he would fuse you back bone, but did he keep his word?

I know your boss is suppose to let you work light duty, but did he put you right back to doing the same job you did before you got injured?

When this kind of question gets ask on this site the resident experts come on before any one else gets a chance and pushes their great wisdom down our throats. We bow our heads and say “thanks bvia and sh for the advice”.

Yes, I want their rules to be posted, but try to understand that your situation may be better than ours because you have the IQ that strikes fear in the heart of your adjuster.

I learn better from hearing the stories. The stories are were the rubber meets the road.

RDS

[tony]

There are no "experts" - anything is possible in this game.
What should happen or what the laws says should happen is a far cry from reality.
As far a I'm concerned the info provided is good for some insight as to what to expect, but keep your expectations low.
No one wins in this game, it's a lose -lose for all concerned.
The best case scenario is you wind up with 80% of your take home wages until your case is settled and your medical paid.
Most settlements for a lifetime disabilty is five years of payments.
Out of that you can deduct the M.S.A. and attorney fees.
Big Deal!!!
Mind you, this is best case and in most cases a rarity.
I know of no one to date that's gotten rich or even a fair shake.
Most people survive for a few years, get sick of the games and just want out.
They settle for what they can get and live on SSDI...that's the most you can look forward to or expect.
Hate to talk you people down but this is the way it is.
Good Luck.
Tony

[RDS]

even a fair shake.
Most people survive for a few years, get sick of the games and just want out.
They settle for what they can get

I think this is a good invitation to those of you who were forced to drop out. I would love to hear your story. What are the pit falls that you can help us avoid?

Some days I just feel like it is more than I can tolerate. I want to drop out. As a matter of fact I bet I would have dropped out if this site wasn’t here.

My heart goes out to those who didn’t get what they set out for. You didn’t deserve to be abused.

Help us if you will. The facts will be OK. What I want is your story in your own words.
RDS

[Meg1638]

I totally agree! The more people post their stories, and happenings, and dealings with these terrible IC's, the more we will each learn. I have found myself on many many occasions ready to throw in the towel. Frustrated and not knowing where to turn to put food on the table, pay a past due utility bill, get prescriptions, etc. Then, I log on to this site and read for hours different posts, and responses. I have learned a lot, and still learn each day! I think everyone should post their full story at least once! And we should all update our stories as things occur; whether it is surgeries, IC crap, Therapy, tests, whatever. Everybody's case is different, yet we can all learn from each other. Besides, who to injured workers really have besides immediate family - - each other!

[Sherry Lou]

Well, Meg1638, I can't update much as it's stayed the same for pain and disability for over a decade only now I'm aging there are new issues up ahead.

I have endured many battles and can't say I "won" as the cost in stress and delay and denial only worsened my conditions. I had some 'good' people on my side but they don't seem as eager to help as they once did. My rehab guy got dressed down after a, to me, valiant stance on my behalf. My lawyer doesn't seem to have 'answers' anymore. Maybe we're just getting old and tired together...

Meanwhile, I'm just now having my first impulses to quit. I was a back injury and developed 'covered' muscle, fatigue and mental conditions. With age and physical limitations my whole spine is deteriorating but it seems the degeneration is going to go un-covered. To me it's very apparent that all these years being disabled is a consequence of the failed back injury recovery and post-surgical conditions. I'm just starting to imagine life, 'divorced' from WC.

Luckily, I do have other health insurance and figure, well, if WC never covers the whole spine then the other insurance can't refuse me and when I need those, to date two, neurosurgical solutions not located at the initial spine injury location WC did cover then I might have them done by my choice of doctor, hospital and so on. I can save up for the co-pay... I can start piling up medical bills and just go bankrupt later if I get insufficient settlement -- Recently, I read that medical bills are the number one reason for bankruptcies... haven't checked if that's true. This is a whole new way of thinking for me... but, I do I even need a credit rating since I can't get loans being out of work and disabled...

I always read posts here about 'settlement' but haven't seen any specific to 'catastrophic' WC cases. I have a lot of researching, asking and thinking to do if I proceed. I hate to say it but in all the years I've been in my WC existence I have never seen any improvement for the IW and seen much favoritism toward WC. And relative to the state of quality medical treatment allowed I've actually been very lucky -- although the struggle to come out as luck seems rough when I think of others going through and getting a share of tough luck. It shouldn't be 'luck,' rather the competent administration of treating doctors treating and insurance paying for prescribed care, as per the requirements and benefits to the insured employer and the IW's 'protection' under the law -- not the law written to create and insert methods of invalidation of treatment for the benefit of the ugly, unethical insurance industry.

That's my update for now. I'm not much use instructing the folks who might just want to know what something means and how to proceed. There are others here who are excellent at that task, and, greatly appreciated. It's a good starting point if you are aware of what the process is supposed to mean even if your experience doesn't match it as time goes on. Most of my battles didn't leave me much better informed than I was before, so I'm not a good 'advisor.' Mostly, I tend to forget the intricate details and specific rules and the verbiage that I only find out are twisted and tortured into something different from what I expected them to mean. Even so, it's important to be assertive when and where you need to. It's called 'survival.' We do still have some 'rights' only they may be slipping away as we sleep. And from the most unusual angles of connection to this little corner of the comparatively small number of IW Americans... I've heard it said that a nation is only as strong as its weakest members. IWs could be the 'weakest' workers and our collective Story mirrors a sad, maybe even tragic, one for workers at large.

[kelly38]

Well, Meg1638, I can't update much as it's stayed the same for pain and disability for over a decade only now I'm aging there are new issues up ahead.

I have endured many battles and can't say I "won" as the cost in stress and delay and denial only worsened my conditions. I had some 'good' people on my side but they don't seem as eager to help as they once did. My rehab guy got dressed down after a, to me, valiant stance on my behalf. My lawyer doesn't seem to have 'answers' anymore. Maybe we're just getting old and tired together...

Meanwhile, I'm just now having my first impulses to quit. I was a back injury and developed 'covered' muscle, fatigue and mental conditions. With age and physical limitations my whole spine is deteriorating but it seems the degeneration is going to go un-covered. To me it's very apparent that all these years being disabled is a consequence of the failed back injury recovery and post-surgical conditions. I'm just starting to imagine life, 'divorced' from WC.

Luckily, I do have other health insurance and figure, well, if WC never covers the whole spine then the other insurance can't refuse me and when I need those, to date two, neurosurgical solutions not located at the initial spine injury location WC did cover then I might have them done by my choice of doctor, hospital and so on. I can save up for the co-pay... I can start piling up medical bills and just go bankrupt later if I get insufficient settlement -- Recently, I read that medical bills are the number one reason for bankruptcies... haven't checked if that's true

Injury and illness are among the top 5 reasons for people to fall below poverty level.

This is a whole new way of thinking for me... but, I do I even need a credit rating since I can't get loans being out of work and disabled...
I recommend keeping a credit card and using it occasionally to keep your credit score up

I always read posts here about 'settlement' but haven't seen any specific to 'catastrophic' WC cases. I have a lot of researching, asking and thinking to do if I proceed. I hate to say it but in all the years I've been in my WC existence I have never seen any improvement for the IW and seen much favoritism toward WC. And relative to the state of quality medical treatment allowed I've actually been very lucky -- although the struggle to come out as luck seems rough when I think of others going through and getting a share of tough luck. It shouldn't be 'luck,' rather the competent administration of treating doctors treating and insurance paying for prescribed care, as per the requirements and benefits to the insured employer and the IW's 'protection' under the law -- not the law written to create and insert methods of invalidation of treatment for the benefit of the ugly, unethical insurance industry.

That's my update for now. I'm not much use instructing the folks who might just want to know what something means and how to proceed. There are others here who are excellent at that task, and, greatly appreciated. It's a good starting point if you are aware of what the process is supposed to mean even if your experience doesn't match it as time goes on. Most of my battles didn't leave me much better informed than I was before, so I'm not a good 'advisor.' Mostly, I tend to forget the intricate details and specific rules and the verbiage that I only find out are twisted and tortured into something different from what I expected them to mean. Even so, it's important to be assertive when and where you need to. It's called 'survival.' We do still have some 'rights' only they may be slipping away as we sleep. And from the most unusual angles of connection to this little corner of the comparatively small number of IW Americans... I've heard it said that a nation is only as strong as its weakest members. IWs could be the 'weakest' workers and our collective Story mirrors a sad, maybe even tragic, one for workers at large.

I do not know if you have done so already, but from your post, it seems like you have a substantial injury. If you have not applied to social security disability, I recommend applying for it. If you do have it, sign up for a good HMO under the coverage, and if treatments are denied or not covered by WC, then you can use your medicare with the attached HMO.[/B]

[disappearingboy]

KBOMAR, since you started this thread I thought I might ask and or suggest creating a new thread specifically just as a place for inviduals to share their experiences so far.

Let's remind everyone to probably leave out the names of the innocent and not-so-innocent when doing so.

I'll be more than happy to share my story but believe it would be more cohesive if all the stories were grouped under one heading like..I dunno..."Share Your WC Experience Here"...

what do you think?

[disappearingboy]

On this topic title, one thing to know ( if you don't, that is ), is more IW's may come here as they realize it's available. I found it through a search engine ( Google ). Not certain, but would imagine that's because the site admin know and use the idea of 'search terms/macros/other geek stuff' to make sure their various sites display as IW's look for informational resources.

The more traffic this site gets, IOW, the more people will learn and share and so on. If you happen to have a blog, someone you email with ( and trust implicitly ), you can share the link to this site simply by copying and pasting it or inserting it wherever you're allowed to. Honestly, I really think, given the numbers of IW's - this site should have tons more active members ( for those that can still pay their ISP's, electricity/phone bills ). Education is crucial for the cause of IW's. And it means more than preaching to the choir too. Being able to intelligently refute the ignorance of people educated by their local news media alone - which typically airs the story of fraudulent, versus legitimate, IW's - with real facts and data is part of that 'education'.