Workers Comp Help
Shoulder Injured While Lifting At Work
In the first place let me make it clear that Idaho is a "right to work" state. This takes many rights away from an employee!
My shoulder was injured while working on an air compressor, not the every day kind, an industrial compressor. I had to lift a cover off an air cleaner to change the cleaner. I had no help and the cover weighs about 60 to 70 lbs. This had to be lifted one handedly as I had to hold on with the other hand because of no place to stand. On to work comp.
I lost a weeks pay to begin with as the insurance would not pay till I had the surgery. After 2 weeks the insurance and my employer kept pressuring the doctor for light duty work. He finally laid out restrictions for light duty. No lifting, pushing, pulling. No use of the left arm. Desk job only.
I had my reservations about the light duty but I figured the Dr. knows best. Well I have learned that you can't do office work in our office without 2 hands. I very seldom sit at a desk because there is very little desk work to be done as the secretaries do that.
Well when the light duty started, the insurance changed my pay days again to suit their needs. By now my rent is way behind, my credit cards are charging late fees, over limit fees because the late fees caused them to go over limit. The insurance says that's not their problem. My employer wouldn't help either so we are going to have a great Christmas with our kids and our grandkids with no money. I've got the best Wife and kids because this IS going to be a great Christmas because of them . By the way, we are a one income home as my wife can't work .
The landlord has been great and allowed me to split the rent into to payments. I should be caught up on the rent By Feb 2003. As far as phone, lights, & water, Maybe April or may. These insurance companies should not be allowed to run an employee into bankruptcy.
A man gives his life to his work and what does he get in return, Screwed!! Insurance is put in place to help these things not happen, not cause them to happen.
Thanks for letting me express my ill feelings.