Workers Comp Help
Fall From A Ladder At Work
I fell from a ladder at work. My company had a policy of answering the phone within 3 rings. As a supervisor, I had been yelled at, yes yelled at by my supervisor when this policy was not adhered to. On the day in question, the phone had rung more than three times and I being on a ladder and preoccupied, walked off the wrong end of the ladder, which had no rails. I fell on my back and arm.
I filed a report. but had to do it myself, as I was the supervisor on the job. I had an assistant verify the report. He also was witness to fall, as he help me up. I went to the hospital for an x-ray, which showed a severe strain of the lower back. I was instructed to start Therapy, which I did for 2 years, the injury, just kept getting worse.
My Doctor. as supplied by Wassau Insurance at the time, finally decided I should have surgery on my lower back to correct the problem. Prior to this surgery, I had to move to Florida, for career reasons. The nightmare begins here, Wassau changed to Liberty Mutual, It took them 7 months to find me a Doctor to see in Florida, despite the fact the Employer operates in this state and the Insurer does business in this state. Finally, they found me a doctor. who wanted to start me on therapy again. Which, the insurer oked after several months.
Then the Doctor wanted to try Epidural Injections, which took them 10 months to approve. Finally, the Doctor decided surgery was needed, as my first Doctor had concluded. ( I should also say, I paid out of my own pocket for a second opinion, because the insurer wouldn't find me a Doctor when I moved.) The insurer took over a year to approve the surgery. at which time. I had suffered some problems from the pain medication I had been taking for over a year.
It took over 3 months for the Insurer to get me an appointment with an Internist, as requested by the doctor. It should be noted. the Doctor indicated I might have internal bleeding at the time of the referral. so, of course. the insurer took 3 months to get me an appointment with Internist. Once the Internist was seen and medications taken to correct that problem, the Insurer finally, approved surgery, It should be noted that during the year and a half I was waiting for surgery approval. the assigned doctor told me not to work, A NO WORK ORDER was sent to Insurer. The Insurer failed to pay any benefits to me for over a year and a half, none.
My surgery was in September of 2002. I am still in severe pain, my doctor has suggested I may have a reherniation, which he requested an MRI, Well, It has now been almost a month, No MRI,
I know there are Nightmares with Workers Comp, .but this is certainly one of them. All, I have ever wanted was to be able to return to work. My life has been completely changed and ruined. I have been unable to walk well. IN pain constantly, and the insurer continues to play games.