This question has arise because I found myself in a place where I had to use the North Carolina Industrial Commission to help with an injury. I have found that there is a ton of red tape, filing forms, motions etc. Large companies are backing attorneys to make sure laws are in the favor of the companies. For the most part, the injured worker is pushed out of work, or force back before the doctor has release them. The attorneys are working for the companies and the large companies are controling the guidelines of the laws.The bottom line is who is watching out for the injured worker?
2007-05-18 06:24:13 · 7 answers · asked by The Girl Next Door 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I have been fighting this for the last three years and waiting on the full comission for another hearing. The company I'm fighting against is one of the largest employer in NC. Yes- I'm pro-se. What will be interesting is to see once the commission see the documents that I have which proves this company removed documents and tried to force me out of work---how will the commission handle that? I agree with some of you that the attorneys are in the back pockets of the corp. gaints.
2007-05-18 07:19:07 · update #1
I think it varies by company, worker and state. For my California case, which dragged on for two years, circumstances favored the company, which had deep pockets for the lawyers. I just couldn't fight anymore! My credit cards were maxed out paying the rent!
I finally settled for $10,000, even though I owed $50,000! Eventually, I repaid everything I owed, but I lost what little faith I had in the legal system!
Ironically, I am now retired on disability, because I was diagnosed with MS.
Oh well.
Cheers!
2007-05-18 06:50:22 · answer #1 · answered by Terry J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was injured on the job in Wisconsin, and the "Workman's Comp," that by law is supposed to be there to protect the worker almost destroyed my life. Everything you wrote is the truth, but the scums get away with it!
I was a single woman of the age 50 with no health insurance. I'm was a Bartender. My injury ended up after including medical and everything due to no income coming in for about a "year" was approximately $100,000.
Work Comp fought, and fought me on the injury. I was in bad need of surgery to my back, and I suffered horribly in pain for 6 month's because they would not approve surgery. I was so sick that my Doctor went ahead and did the surgery. I lost, my car, furniture, checking account, EVERYTHING in that time period.
Family and friends bought my medicine, food and payed for my shelter.
They finally settled for 80,000. Just my medical was 45,000, and I still had to pay Attorney fees! What little I had left to start my life over the "Judge" now all of a sudden was concerned for my "welfare." Although the insurance company paid me in "Full" the Judge put almost all of it in a bank account and I was only allowed 1,600 a month until it was gone! Although the account was in my name only, I was not allowed access to these funds, without writing and begging him as to what I needed "MY" money for!!!
I had to beg him for my own money to buy a used car. The whole thing was pure insanity! I don't think that I ever emotionally recovered. . .
2007-05-18 06:53:23 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Worker's Comp is a nice ideal, but essentially is a joke.
You stand to get better care, if you just seek out medical attention on your own, sans the worker's comp claim.
I think that Worker's Comp has become the joke that it is because of the many folks who have abused the system in order to get "easy money" via a lawsuit against the company that "injured" them.
2007-05-18 06:42:35 · answer #3 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to say, that it seems no one really cares about it. I was injured myself and was out of work for 6 years. It was really discusting because I was being told I should lie about things to get what I really needed. And the WC lawyers work in volume so good luck in getting a call back from them. they are too busy to deal with us personally.
Oh well, all you can do is just work on getting better and make the best out of it. Try not to get too bitter (easier said than done) Because all that does is make you depressed. Go to school get retrained and learn to deal with pain, I have for the most part.
Good luck
2007-05-18 06:33:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a mess in almost every state and there are frauds on all sides of this.
Since attorneys make a bundle and lawmakers are mostly attorneys, do not expect help from there.
The only solution is a grass roots movement and that will probably make it worse.
And I am optimistic.
I feel your pain.
2007-05-18 06:38:40 · answer #5 · answered by Richard F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The legal system is rigged so that the lawyers get wealthy and the injured person gets nothing (much).
2007-05-18 06:32:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ours at my Company is working quite well. We use The Hartford
2007-05-18 06:31:57 · answer #7 · answered by jimmer333 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋