Re: Results of my MRI
I have seen many cases like yours over the years, what area was injured? I suspect shoulder or knee? Seems to be pretty common sites for injury with regard to ligaments. Some ligaments will heal provided they are not completely torn. I would seek a second opinion. As far as work comp goes, the employer cannot fire you. Make sure you go through the proper motions. In Illinois you have 24 hours to report the injury to your supervisor, waiting longer in Illinois is not a good idea as the work comp insurance will try to hold it against you for not following proper protocol. The employer has to have posted somewhere, where employees can see it, the proper steps to follow if you are injured. Most don't so you can use it against them if they screw with you. Doesn't necessarily mean you won't have a case, but can be harder to get the process started. Being in Ohio I am not sure what the laws are with regard to work comp. In my state you have the choice of seeing three doctors and each doctor can refer you to some one else and that doctor can refer you to another. As long as you stay in the path you are fine. If you go out and choose another doctor and have seen three others on your own, the forth doctor would have to get approval from the work comp insurance or it will come out of your own pocket. In Illinois the laws protect you. In other states they are designed to protect the work comp insurance and the employer. Missouri is such a state. You have to go to the WC appointed doctor or company doctor who controls all your care. They work for employer or insurance and will protect their interests. I routinely take people out of work, legally the WC has to pay you for lost wages. Again, depends on the state, in IL its a sliding scale. The first few months are at or close to full pay, then 80% after certain amount of time and so on. Light duty work is an option but depends, many companys like construction don't have anything really that is light duty. You also are to be reimburesed for travel to see WC insurance doctors (again depends on state). Here is what I would do, I would go see a work comp attorney. They will guide you through the process and tell you what you can and cannot do. Some may feel that this is why there is such a problem with high rates with insurance, the attorneys suing everyone. I am not a big fan of attorneys but I will tell you this, the WC insurance has them and they are looking out for the insurance company, not you. It's easy for the WC insurance to take advantage of you. This is where having an attorney helps. Just some helpful information, I am not an attorney and this shouldn't be construed as legal advice. For legal advice, see an attorney.
