WV COMP. PPD Award

[WV-Worker]

Hello Everyone!

I was injured in 2007, had 2 surgerys on my arm with a total of 16 inches in scars, have 3 Titanium implants in my elbow. I was sent to have an IME, I received my report and it is so inaccurate. I have severe pain at invtervals, am unable to lift anything of weight with that arm, have numbness down 2/3 of my arm. The IME Dr. rated me at 7% on my arm and 4% total body. So this week Brickstreet sent me an award letter for $5500 PPD. I DO NOT want to accept this and will not be cashing any check they send me. Oh, BTW they want to pay this award in monthly payments.

Any suggestions on what I should do next? Does this rating seem fair to you? Any other comments and suggestions would be great, I have no idea how all this works.

[jayne]

I suggest you talk to a lawyer the first visit is free and he/she will tell you weather or not this is a fair amount.....

[1171]

get another rating and let the comp court decide.
http://www.wvinsurance.gov/ooj/

[stiffnecked]

Get an attorney, get another rating and then take it to work comp court. They are trying to hose you. Return the check.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

Here is your information;

http://www.wvinsurance.gov/info_letters/...fo_167.pdf

[WV-Worker]

Thanks for all the help.

Ok, so I received a check today for $1500. on the PPD Award, I spoke with my Comp. Casewoker and she offered me a total of $15000. to close my case out. She says that by law, Brickstreet has to give me the $$ from the 4% whole body and that I can appeal the rating I received, and if I send the checks back that they will just put them back into my account for me. She stated that if I take this amount they will cover all medical expenses and if something happens I need further surgery for scar tissue they would be required by law to pay that,but, if it was 4 or 5 years down the road they may fight me to prove that it was from the original injury. So, I may not be covered if another surgery is needed down the road. Now, If I take the $15000. then they are done with the case for anything. Now, would my health insurance pick up and pay if I needed anything with my arm in the future?

I am so lost as what to do.... They make it seem like you can win for losing.

She also told me today that if I appeal , that their legal panel would request another IME and I may get an even lower rating.

[stiffnecked]

She also told me today that if I appeal , that their legal panel would request another IME and I may get an even lower rating.

This is called a scare tactic. Seek legal adivce.

[Lilly]

Your reg insurance will not pay for a WC injury down the road!
I doubt that $15000 would cover ANY future surgery and medications you may require. Talk to doctor and find out about the what if's. What type of surgery may you need in the future...and a simple estimate of what it would cost today.....and add to that amount... for future increases. You want to cover your butt, so call a cert WC lawyer to see what a fair price for settlement would be. Give him the costs you found from your doctor for assistance.

Good Luck, Lilly