Workers Comp Help
Back Injury From Loading A Vehicle
I have been a resident of California since the early '70's, with time and persistence I was able to find my place in The City of Angels. For about 15 years I worked as a "chauffeur" driving for most of the biggest names in entertainment. In October of 1999 while loading over weight bags into the back of a van, my back failed. I went to the Doctor right away but I thought that it was just a sprain and I had no intention of filing a worker's comp claim, Mr Dr. took an x ray and I went on about my life.
Time passed, my back did not improve. When I went back to my Dr. for the second or third time, he "read" the ray and informed me that my disks were not good, there was damage and I should consider that I'd need a new career! I was devastated. 43 years old, limited education, where was I going to find someone to start a new career? After the Dr. told me his prognosis, I reported it top my employer who sent me to their Doctor. After about a month of painful "physical Therapy, the doctor told me I had "arthritis and that I was fine. He prescribed medications for me, two of which were narcotic, and sent me back to work with restrictions.
I didn't like being told "I'd be fine", just take these pain pills and GO BACK TO WORK! All I have is my reputation and the thought of driving with chemicals in my system was out of the question. I got an attorney and another doctor, and my life has been more hell then anything else ever since. How bad?
It took almost a year before the insurance carrier did the RIGHT THING, by that I mean FOLLOW THE LAW. My family did what they could and friends paid my bills for most of this time. The Insurance carrier was taken over by the State, I certainly didn't cause that! Any money I did get was just enough to stay alive, and I hoped to pay back the people who were there for me. What good are laws, if THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT?
Admitted injury
Every time I went to the doctor, they wanted to send me to their doctor, in other words, two for one.
3 or so expensive tests to confirm that yes my back is damaged. Delays, delays and more doctor's appointments. Then just as I thought that I would have a good idea of what my future would be.
The "law firm" representing me informed me that they were dropping me, "conflict of interest". Yes, the firm was to be handling cases for the STATE, VOLUME CASES-BIG MONEY. I was conflicting with their ability to get on the gravy train. The new attorney seemed good at first, then began having amnesia about circumstances, and figures. He had never looked at the files for my case and complained that there was information somewhere in "three files" which were on his desk, he was straining to look through three files!
When the state accused me of "double dipping", I had to send the copies of all the draft's which I had returned, through the law firm.
All the doctor's say I'm injured. They disagree (along party lines) as to what treatments I should have. My options? Settle out for a fraction of the potential costs and forget the future.
If I need surgery, well perhaps I can get it done in Tijuana.
Go before the Judge, who is I must remember, a former attorney! Hope for the best which is, considering the tactics that have been used to discourage me from proceeding, endless battles and struggles to be able to function again, preferably without narcotic medications. My future in these regards does not seem bright.
It really hit home when I received a notice of hearing, which listed THREE PAGES, of doctors, clinics, pharmacies, therapists, attorneys, medical supply vendors, three pages of people who WILL GET PAID. I can not say what my future holds.
I am past frustrated, bitter that even when a worker is injured on the job, NO FRAUD HERE! The system is designed to feed the system. A lot of people will make a decent amount of of my injury, my misfortune. So for any Governors or legislative representatives, who are going to fix the system, all I can say is, follow the MONEY TRAIL!
I can only hope that since it is too late for me to be treated fairly in a system long dysfunctional regarding it's stated purpose, perhaps, someone in the future will benefit from my speaking up. Perhaps, GOVERNMENT WILL CLEAN UP THE SPECIAL INTEREST DONATION PROBLEMS, AND PERHAPS, there just might be real help available for the injured worker.
Thank you for your time.