settled case

[srzak]

I was in the system form 8 years, just could not take it anymore settled c&r . Even that it does fell good to be done with workers comp and the hoops they make you jump thur. After it's all said and done still have pain everyday and will for the rest of my life. But with comp in calif so screwed up against the injured worker I did not see any other choise ..I'm lucky to have private ins.and the settlement was set up tp pay over a lifetime. A big part no more cameras,appointments where they make you wait for hours,it's a heck of a way to retire but with reading what is happening to a lot of workers I do feel lucky to get out alive. I could not have done it without my lawyer who was there for the whole time. And there were times we knocked heads but he did set up a fair deal.

I wish all injured comp the best..someday it will be over....steve

[Linda25]

Congratulations to you!


linda25

[photonut]

Congratulations Steve;
Now you can get some sort of your life back. Just knowing that it is over will help you breath much easier....NOW you can enjoy life even if it's just a little. I was in the system for over 11 years before I was classified in 2004. I now get payments & medical for the rest of my life...Photo nut:)

[Dabbadoo7]

Steve,
Your feelings are just about the same as mine. I was in the "system" for over 15 yrs., and even though I lost some $$ in my settlement, I do feel much more comfortable knowing that I don't have to look over my shoulder for Comp people every time I work in my yard.

Even though the judge said that Comp was supposed to pay me $***X per month/yr. or whatever, for life, it doesn't mean for your actual life. Comp can still drag you into a hearing at any time and claim that you have improved, and that payments should be stopped, or at least be reduced. And, after a period of time, and armed with an IME opinion, they eventually get better than a 50/50 chance of a reduction or discontinuance of payments. If you truly have a long-term or permanent injury, you adapt to it, and find ways to do many of the things you used to do, albeit in a different manner. But in your efforts to better your lifestyle, you run the risk of losing income from Comp. And they know that no one is going to just lay back and accept the limitations that a permanent injury brings. At least not a sane person. But, on the other hand, being on Comp. doesn't leave you sane.

I ended up with a lump sum, plus a monthly income for 20 yrs. guaranteed, but it doesn't equal what I would get if I continued recieving the bi-weekly Comp money. Fairly close, but not as much. Plus a fair amount of $$ in a set-aside, which was approved by SSA. I accepted the trade-off, to have peace of mind. I feel that I should have gotten more $$, but all of us will feel that way. In my case, I was receiving the maximum allowed by law, but it was still
much less than my regular paycheck. I'll never be able to recoup that loss, but Comp knows this, and that is the about the only point that leaves a bitter taste. I can now, without worry, work in my yard. Even with a good atty. (we all have the best, don't we?) I didn't get rich, in my opinion, and nobody on Comp will. Yes, the lump sum was large, but you can be surprised at how little it is, when it has to last the rest of your life, and you have no expectation of resuming a financially productive life.

Everyone should consider that, even with a favorable decision by a hearing officer, you will not neccesarily get compensation for life. Comp can aplly for reconsideration at any time, and leave you high and dry. No $$. You have to weigh that whenever they may want to negotiate a settlement. Let your atty. be your guide. That's why you pay him that 20%.

Best of luck to you Steve, and to all others trying to get out of the hold of the Comp carriers.

Dabbadoo

[backless]

glad for ya.I agree about the settlement.My case was strong for perm.tot.but in Fl.you only get temp.tot.for 52 weeks.After jumping through all the hoops for a yr.and a half my atty.ASKED me ,do you want to see if we can settle?No pressure.I wasn't having surgery(back)my knees were bad ,but too early fot replacement.We talked ,settle and look into SSDI which I eventually got.My settlement was written up so it was over a lifetime,though it was a lumpsum(legal stuff)therefor no offset.So now I have medicare,and a SSDI check.The settlement $ long gone due to bills.

[mariah]

Glad for you Steve.

I was going to ask some questions tonight, gearing up to drag back in for hearing again, I'm so sick of it. So great to hear something good happened to one of us. God bless