ITs Done, all settled!!

[sparkey]

Well i do not think i will be getting any phone calls. I sent in my mileage to my adjuster after my PIR rating and he said they would pay it when they pay for my settlement. So i really do not know how it works when they just send it in the mail. Will they just send a check and that is that, or will they write me and tell me my rating and make a offer? Has anyone had their settlement before like i am without a lawyer, and being put at permanent impairment? My doctor already told me ( the one that did the rating) that i was getting a settlement award and to decide if i want it all in one lump sum or take it over a period of time. Here in NH i have read that it is ONLY in lump sum and not offered over a period of time. Oh well, any day now i should be hearing something after the holidays. Thanks to everyone, and merry xmas to all.

[annoyedtodeath]

sparkey Wrote:Well i do not think i will be getting any phone calls. I sent in my mileage to my adjuster after my PIR rating and he said they would pay it when they pay for my settlement. So i really do not know how it works when they just send it in the mail. Will they just send a check and that is that, or will they write me and tell me my rating and make a offer? Has anyone had their settlement before like i am without a lawyer, and being put at permanent impairment? My doctor already told me ( the one that did the rating) that i was getting a settlement award and to decide if i want it all in one lump sum or take it over a period of time. Here in NH i have read that it is ONLY in lump sum and not offered over a period of time. Oh well, any day now i should be hearing something after the holidays. Thanks to everyone, and merry xmas to all.

Hey Sparky,

I cant say for sure, but my guess is that they will send you a check, and not expect you to balk at it.
If I were you, I would contact the doctor that gave you the rating, ask what he rated you at, and then call an attorney, initial visit is free, and he/she, can tell you if you were rated too low or not, and what your case is worth. You do not have to sign with them, but if they think that your rating should be higher, nd case because of partial or perm disability, should be more, then you could decide whether to proceed on your own, or hire the attorney.

You don't have to cash the check when sent, just call and say you feel you were rated too low, and you want xxx amount of dollars. It would even be better to get your own rating from your own doctor to counter offer the insurance's doctors rating. The attorney could handle this as well, as they have their own doctors that they refer you to. The choice is yours. It could be that the wc ins. is treating you fairly, but if it were me, I'd check it out with a work comp attorney first.

Only my opinion, hope all turns out well for you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

[sparkey]

Thank you for the info Annoyed. How are things going on your end? Did you receive the check yet? I was just curious to how long after you signed if everything worked out okay and they settled with you. If so, i am happy for you that you can put one end to rest. I am still playing the waiting game, wondering when i will hear anything from the ic etc. I tried to get a copy of the rating last week, but the secretary told me it is the adjusters property and i have to ask him. I emailed him my mileage and also asked if he could send me a copy of the rating with the mileage reimbursement. So we will see.

Hope you had a very merry xmas.

[katicabogar]

Sparkey,

In my case, I was rated by IME doctor while going through Voc Rehab. My doctor disagreed but didn't rate me. Voc Counselor relying prevous FCE and my doctor's opinion recommended pension(no lump sum in this case). Than w/c sent me to second IME who rated me same as first one. At this point, my own doctor abandoned me and still didn't rate me but referred me to my PCP. I thought w/c will send me check according to IME's rating and close my case. At this point, I still didn't have attorney because they were still paying my timeloss. But w/c suprised me..they didn't settle and didn't close my claim...instead they sent me to second FCE and hired a second Voc Rehab Firm.

At this point, I hired lawyer because I was denied medical care and because I had new complications.
So W/c rated me twice and still didn't offer settlement. You know from my previous posting w/c doctors rated me very low(5% total on both hands) which would be around $5000.00..ridicoulus and insulting, so I keep fighting.

I know you will not be happy with rating no matter what because hands/shoulders don't get as high ratings as other body parts, so you may want to consult attorney.

[annoyedtodeath]

Sparkey,

I received one of the checks Thursday and my attorney is to send the other 2 around the 29th or 30th.

I had ratings on my shoulders and hands and wrists and back, low my attorney and I thought, but my big issue was that there was a difference of opinion on my being perm. total disabled.

My attorney started the negotiations for settlement, but we knew that they were wanting to settle way before, back when I was trying to get TTD after being off work for over a year, no benefits at all from work comp.

We shot over the amount that my attorney said my case was worth, and they came back with a very low and insulting offer the first and second time, the third was told that was final, all they would pay, without going to trial.
My attorney said that they would not have gone that high, unless they were worried about losing at trial.

I took the offer, just over half what my case was worth, but I also got them to pay for the 2 years of my Cobra insurance.
The payments were split, due to me applying for ssdi, and there was no MSA, thus two of the checks, the other one for the insurance cost.

I will be able to pay off my house and get a new vehicle, and rest in some type of interest account or cd. I still pay co-pays and deductibles, but at least I will not have to fight wc for all that I need from now on. It is done and over, and I am happy!!

[sparkey]

Great to hear that annoyed. I am so happy for you finally getting something settled. Katica, i was already put at permanent from the wc occ. doctor. My wc advocate said that was very good as not many people are put at that from him. Like i said in other post, the doctor already told me my medical is left open. So that in itself is a benefit if they pay for my visits and meds. I just really want to rid myself of this wc buisness and get the REAL help i need. Seems no matter what you have wrong as a injury, noone can seem to really fix anyone and left to heal on their own.

I read once and was told that dominant hand/arm is suppose to be a higher rating up to 20%. Then you can throw in the pain and ADL's up to 3 %. I still think after the holidays i will get the notice in the mail. Until then, it's still a waiting game. I am sure it will not be anywhere near what i feel i should be compensated for.

Beth, as soon as i get the rating percentage for my hand/shoulder, i will let you know.

[sparkey]

Kat, was this a PIR rating after you were at MMI? I think if you are going to be going to rehab you are not at MMI status yet, and that is why you probably were not paid. I was put at PERMANENT impairment by the occupational doctor. He already did my rating the 7th and told me that it should be sent to me soon. They have so many days to send me a offer or the check for the rating. If it is not what i feel is worth my losing my career over, i will contact a lawyer and get the ball moving. Your doctor has to say your at MMI status and you have to have the adjuster of the IC sign a paper that they would pay for the initial exam. Then you get to set the appt for the rating.

[sparkey]

I was just re-reading the post here. Tweety? Why was it that you got a 0% rating? I cannot see how you can have an injury and be put at 0%. Who the heck would even think to write that as a percentage for your loss? That is crazy. I hope you fought back or got a second opinion.

[katicabogar]

Sparkey,
Answering to your question, I was put at MMI with permanent impairment, but no rating by my ortho surgeon about 1 1/2 year ago. And I can believe how Tweety got rated 0% by IME, because they also rated me very low. IME doctors get paid just to do this and there are a lot of them out there, at least in my area. Easy money for them.
I hope you share your rating with me also when it comes, it would be good to know because of our similar condition.
Thank you and Happy New Year(I am sure you will, after receiving that big fat check).
Kate

[tweety00]

sparkey Wrote:I was just re-reading the post here. Tweety? Why was it that you got a 0% rating? I cannot see how you can have an injury and be put at 0%. Who the heck would even think to write that as a percentage for your loss? That is crazy. I hope you fought back or got a second opinion.

Told by lawyer to get treatment after I was denied ... So I have and still learning what is all wrong ... Had neck fusion and now S I joint and neck muscles being worked on by pt and my personal insurance .. I have to decide if Im going to get lawyer or just walk away soon.

Kat Mine was done by general ortho guy ... I cant seem to figure out What othro surgeun says since its not on report anywhere ...