Workers Comp Help
Head Injury In An Industrial Plant
I had just started (2 mos. in) at a new prosperous industrial plant in southeastern Wisconsin, in a city with a reputable struggling industrial economy. I am a hard-working, young, ethical worker(28). I have had jobs already in my life that a lot of people, even unemployed, would not want, or would take the time to whine about if they had it.
Some people think life should be a silver platter, if possible, or that they're owed something. Well, that's true even with workers' comp. When I finally got to go back to work at the place of my injury, after a year -1/4, that was all the feedback I got instead of asking how I was feeling. People asked why I came back as if I was on a "load" of green and didn't need to work anymore after my serious injury.
Some asked why I am in the current position I am holding, as if I'm an idiot. The talk of "sue" and "lawyers" has been overly abundant. People just don't get it. Even some company 'big shots' don't know how the system works. Oh yeah, I'm gonna complain about some work comp. systematic experiences, but I can never forget how much people think this is a "settle-out" thing all the time. No.
I was struck in the head over my left eye by a iron hoist grappling-hook that slipped from what it was lifting, basically a sling-shot effect occurred. The laws of physics failed, simply put ; furthermore it was a "no-fault injury" as some statute would call it. But that is a good thing, an attorney told me.
Boy, I wonder what would've happened if it was blatantly my fault for doing something reckless or jesterly, or even just a personal mistake (well, there are people who cause work accidents for doing something idiotic so I had to mention). And of course it's obvious what happens when the workplace is at fault for a mistake--$$$. (Too many people think that is inevitable no matter what the accident)
I suffered a brain trauma, eye trauma, and craniofacial implosion (I had safety glasses on, but they only added to the cutting of my flesh and brain tissue), couldn't walk straight for a while(6 mos.), slippery memory, but I've got all that back, and a year and a quarter of utter boredom and worry about how things were going to pan out, work and life altogether.
Actually, unlike what you may expect to hear, I had the best medical treatment, since the accident, you could ever want (Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee) I was flown there, mandatorally and immediately cause of how bad my injury was. I could have died. I shouldn't even have my sight as good as it has recovered, let alone my left eye. I suffer permanent double-vision, a minor bladder/sphincter mishap from the brain trauma, a 'monkey on my back' of work restrictions--permanent ones, and a lot less credibility for my woes than if I would have injured my neck or back from the accident--hmmm.
The work comp insurance company has not messed around with any of the medical aspects thus far, and that's good.
I've got to worry now about if my double-vision impairment (which caused ALL my permanent work restrictions that I'll have for life--furthermore creating a sad obstacle for getting employment in areas I am experienced in or skilled for, but can't ever be allowed to do, in the future), if it will be ruled as a 'head' or an 'eye' injury, which affects how much benefits I will be entitled to, or be able to choose from. I'll have to try the vocational rehab system; it might be all that I'll be entitled to. But it's hard to compromise your lifestyle, kids, and readiness to school when your a simple middle-class blue-collar that has a steady, now-lower-paying position with a company, where you wouldn't want to jeopardize job-security because of a school agenda.
The Voc Rehab is tidy for me I have been told, but a loss of earnings claim and where I can try schooling on my own terms, may be a better path. If only there wasn't such a scrutiny about the injury of my (vision) disabilities--head or eye!?, head or eye!?. Well a head injury being ruled will get me more benefit (benefit-what a word for this system, there's no such thing; try aid or something). But 'eye' will get me , well,... short-changed I like to say--it will only get me the option of vocational rehab (free schooling).
HOWEVER, provided I don't come within a certain range of my old wage(85-90% or something). Oh, so if I, somehow before then, get a spot at my work that's GREAT in pay, I'll screw myself---near totally!! So I'll still have my deficits, disabilities, future employment obstacles (restrictions), impairment, and an expensive cost-quote for an education in something so I can defy my restrictions obstacle (monkey), cause it will be hard to pay for, amongst all other things, even with a greater salary.
Even the disfigurement claim I can pursue is twisted. Sure I'll go for it to get what I can. But it's based on the fact that I may be discriminated against for my facial appearance now with scars and distortion of my eye. The only thing of discrimination that this injury will bring me is from those damned restrictions, cause some employer in an interview someday will move to the next paper in the pile cuz of all those 'strings' attached to me now and they won't have time to call doctors to find out if I can run this or that--even if I am actually most qualified for the job. (From now on, my credentials will be my work ethic, intuitiveness, past references, and maybe pity for my injury woes)
Plus, I didn't even get Thanksgiving holiday pay, shortly after returning, because I disenetitled myself somehow, technically, to that by being gone so long and not having enough hours in the fiscal year--well I had no choice, duh! So it came down to a moral thing, which I am still waiting on. Now I know what Thanksgiving means: thanks for letting me rip my skull open... for free. And, I "won't have enough hours" for X-mas pay either.
And the restrictions I don't really need to have, but that's because of all the lawsuits that could arise if I am involved in an accident on the job while doing these 'restricted' duties. It's one thing when your restrictions truly accommodate a nasty disability, but it's sorrowful when you have restrictions you don't need to have. I am not allowed to even prove that I can do the tasks that I have been restricted from. (I am not allowed to drive(forklifts, etc.), climb, or operate heavy machinery (tools, saws, etc.) --ever) Thing is, I have adapted to my double-vision which is less apparent now, but that changes nothing.
Don't get hurt in the head, OR your vision, on the job, by ALL means.
Therefore, insult to injury. I have been punished for getting hurt, because of where-on-the-body I am hurt and the restrictions caused from it. Not to mention the social criticisms for how I am "handling" my situation( I CAN'T do anything about it--it's the system...sometimes I wanted to go to work with a white shirt saying "leave me the hell alone" on it in big letters, but I'm a nice guy)
In the beginning I even thought, like others, that I would get a lot out of my troubles. I was re-educated on the work comp system, though. But I didn't think it would be this pesky as it has already been and will be. Everyone's case is different but we are too categorized in the work comp. system. My accident has some authenticities to it that I'll probably have to somehow get a judge to appeal to.
So far all I've gotten is survival (which was A LOT in my accident), mixed attention, a restrictions-hurdle of a burden, my mileage reimbursement (woo-hoo), and a hard lesson. Well, plus a cute lil' flingy thingy with one of my therapists a while back after I got out of the hospital, which was actually a good thing. ( Hay I gotta look on the bright side somewhere here.)