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Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho
Mark in PA,
You are having a normal experience with Work Comp. Do you have access to your own doctor? Have you talked to a Work Comp attorney?
I would strongly suggest finding a Work Comp attorney who understands head injuries. Head injuries are very hard to get handled in a Work Comp situation. Does your employer have a disability program for employees?
Ask an attorney if your firing should instead be a "laid off due to disability?" This starts a clock for Social Security Disability. Some states do not allow an employer to fire an injured worker. Check this out with the attorney.
Regarding attorneys, you might want to check with a personal injury attorney. Since you were going into work, this may not be a proper Work Comp situation. Employers try to use Work Comp because it protects them better by limiting the benefits to the injured employee.
At your age (over 50), Social Security considers you to not be retrainable. If you cannot return to your last job, then you may qualify for SSDI.
I am 54 and now on SSDI after a Work Comp head injury in 2001. Work Comp in California is a nightmare. The Governator (Ahnold) has made it very difficult for the injured to get legal representation. I hope PA is better.
Hang in there, you may be in for a long ride. The best you can do is wait and try to relax. Stay away from alcohol and other toxins while your brain tries to heal.
btw, Could you go by Mark in PA rather than Mark G? It confuses my brain damaged mind because I am also a Mark G. Just go to your profile and change your screen name. I see Mark G and think it is me. I quickly correct myself, but....
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starting here and working backward, I made several unsuccessful attempts to change my User name but no dice. Sorry.
I do not use any drugs other than Pamelor (nortriptalyn) and darvocet as prescribed by my neulogist. I dont use alcohol or any tobacco products and I have been a vegetarian for well over 20 years. I was in excellent physical condition until my injury.
SSI here is a joke, just not funny. I have already spoken to SSI regarding some assistance. I have to be out of work and completely unable to do any sort of work at all in order to get SSI. I can apply for DSS( disability security income) but over 90% are turned down and then you need to hire an attorney to plead your case. I am also ineligible for SSI because I make too much on Comp.
At my age and with my condition I may not be trainable but they can try to force me to do some work that I have done in the past. I have had several well-paying jobs in supervisory/managerial positions. But again, at 51 and injured the chances of scoring a decent job are minimal at best.
I have an attorney who handles the majority of Comp cases in this county and she seems to know what she is doing.I can not sue for personal injury in this state as I was on Company property and going into work at the time of the accident. I guess it is the Commonwealth's way of protecting employers. I have contacted several personal injury attorneys who said the same thing, I have no grounds to sue my employer or the corporation other than Worker Comp.
MY girlfriend found this site while searching for info on PCS. She has read may of the posts and she is the one who told me about this. I will look for support group locally but in the meantime this will have to do. Thanks for the info and the reply. Best of luck in your recovery.
Mark G in Pa
