personal injury advice

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Eddie if you got a $1000 you might want to sign up.

It's launching in Sept
http://www.whocanisue.com/

As if there weren't enough people out there suing each other, now a Florida attorney has come up with a way to make the process even easier.
Beginning next month, anyone with access to the Internet should be able to log onto WhoCanISue.com. The new website plans to help consumers determine whether they actually have a case and help them find an attorney from a list of lawyers who advertise their expertise on the website. The attorneys will pay an annual fee of $1,000 to appear on the site, plus an additional amount of their own choosing that will determine how prominently they appear in the listings on the site. The website will vet the attorneys to make sure they are in good standing with their state bar associations.

Curtis A. Wolfe, formerly general counsel for Fort Lauderdale-based private equity firm Ener1 Group and the founder of WhoCanISue.com, plans to unveil the new website in September. But he will begin signing up attorneys to advertise on the site when the American Bar Association convenes it annual meeting in New York City on Thursday.

Wolfe's website is not the first of its kind. His most direct competition includes SueEasy.com and LegalMatch.com, among others. But Wolfe says his service ? which is free to the consumer ? differs from the others in that he will provide real-time access to attorneys. After consumers answer a set of general questions about their grievances, they will be given some guidance about whether they might have a case worth pursuing; if they do, they will be immediately put in touch with an interested attorney

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1829725,00.html

 

[Regular Joe]

Update:

The kid went to his doctor on an unrelated item, but had him take a look a look at the knee.
His response: Disney should x-ray or MRI it, he should get a knee brace, and should be out of work for about three weeks. (the knee makes a popping, clicking sound).

Today, the Disney doctor said: The knee is still inflamed, has him doing restricted duty-type work, no x-ray/MRI for a month if it doesn't improve, no medical leave (he wants the knee "to remember what its job is), no knee brace (but will give him crutches),and physical therapy twice a week.

Next step, guys?? :shrug:

 

[SixFive]

Update:

The kid went to his doctor on an unrelated item, but had him take a look a look at the knee.
His response: Disney should x-ray or MRI it, he should get a knee brace, and should be out of work for about three weeks. (the knee makes a popping, clicking sound).

Today, the Disney doctor said: The knee is still inflamed, has him doing restricted duty-type work, no x-ray/MRI for a month if it doesn't improve, no medical leave (he wants the knee "to remember what its job is), no knee brace (but will give him crutches),and physical therapy twice a week.

Next step, guys?? :shrug:

it's all a huge game with work comp, and you have to jump through the hoops. A couple of things I know that apply in this state (not sure if laws are state specific or not) follow. There are attorneys posting here that know more than I do I'm sure; my experience comes from working with people who have comp injuries, trying to help them and be their advocate, seeing their struggles, knowing the treatment that they received, and general rehab of the knee knowledge and experience.

1) Your son has to make sure he attends all of his physical therapy sessions. If he can't make one, he must call, cancel, and reschedule. Treat a PT appointment like he would his normal job. Don't call in twice to PT once a week, don't just not show up, and don't be tardy. IOW, don't do anything concerning PT that you wouldn't do at your regular job (as far as attendance goes). It can come back to bite him especially if he has long term damage or injury, and I'm sure you can understand why (well, you didn't go to PT so your knee didn't heal...).

2) Suprised they didn't X-ray the knee although back and knee X-rays show very little diagnostically. It's hard to get a work comp MRI because they are so expensive. Sad to say, but if he hurts long enough they'll finally do an MRI.

3) Light duty/modified duty in my experience is sometimes harder on the employee than their regular job. They can make you do about anything as long as it doesn't interfere with your restrictions (more on that in #4). In Kentucky, the employer can also alternate the work comp employees schedule and shift. A night shift person can be made to work days, a person who works three 12 hour shifts might have to work five 8 hour shifts, etc. I've seen skilled people stuck in the hot laundry room for 8 hours folding towels! I would think Disney would have a ton of chitty alternate jobs.

4) Restrictions... Your son must abide by his restrictions no matter how stupid they seem!! Here, the restrictions for back and knee are usually no bending, no stooping, no lifting more than 10 pounds, no pushing, no pulling, and alternate sitting and standing. If he is seen (working modified duty/light duty) breaking a restriction, he could get into trouble. If he is working modified duty, and his knee hurts worse or differently, he must report that immediately to his supervisor and then to his work comp MD. If at some point his doctor tells him to wear a knee brace and adds that as a precaution/restriction, he must wear it while at work no matter how bad it sucks, how restrictive it is, or hot it is.

5) In Kentucky, you are allowed to see your own Medical Doctor. It's a hassle for your MD with the paperwork involved, but you'll almost assuredly have a lot better care and actually have a physician that cares about you and your situation and knows you and wants you to get better. Some of these work comp doctors are just drones and don't do a good job nor do they seem to care.

On the knee, the clicking/popping sound is probably a tendon that is moving across an area it shouldn't be. His knee is probably unstable, and hopefully with PT and exercise, the knee and muscles associated with it will get stronger and this will improve. I have had and I'm sure lots of people here who play/played sports have had a 'trick' knee or a knee that 'clicked' when they walked.

Be happy that's he's not in a knee brace as it probably would do nothing to help and be a PIA anyway. Anything more than a simple Ace bandage or neoprene sleeve SUCKS. I've never had to use an ACL brace like you see the football linemen wearing, and I've heard mixed reports on their comfort. Some work comp doctors put almost all their knee injuries in an AOA brace or long knee brace that keeps the knee from bending and looks like this.

That brace is like a torture device!


Keep us updated!

 

[Regular Joe]

SixFive,

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.