Workman's Comp is trying to settle my case. At first they only offered me $8,000. Personally I do not feel like this is an adaquet amount. They want me to come up with an amount that I would feel suitable. Back in July 2009 I had to move back to Nebraska. I was told my case cannot be transfered from GA to NE. I called a PM doctor to see if I could get an estimate on how much it was going to cost me yearly to be seen for RSD. They said that I would have to get an approval from WC to be seen by them. But where I was told my case cannot be transfered I don't know if they would approve me to see one here. So I'm in a bind I don't know if I should get a lawyer and see what they say as to a settlement price, and if I do will it have to be a GA lawyer or a NE lawyer. Or should I just put in a suggestion myself and see what they say but then I don't know how much to ask for because I don't want to sound greedy.

Please Help.

YES!!!!

Get an attorney. Think of how much you make a year, how old you are, how many more years you will (should) be working, etc. fmichael is your answer. I would not go without representation. He is a great resource..

Please don't sign a thing or agree to anything until you see or talk to an attorney first. That is a ridiculously low amount. I don't know how extensive your RSD is but that is really low. Best of luck
kathy d

Doesn't sound like you are ready to settle....

I found this link for GA Workman's Comp...
http://sbwc.georgia.gov/portal/site/...00bf01020aRCRD

I'm not anything close to an attorney but my guess is the lawyer would have to be from the state where you were working and where the injury occurred.

Also... Settlements for work comp in many states are limited... ie... loss of use---permanent (loss of limb, paralysis) or temporary (expected to heal). They are normally based on a percentage of wages that you were making at time of injury.

Some states are better than others about wc payout.

An attorney can help you come to a settlement agreement with your employer. The Attorney will take a percentage of the settlement amount.

I wish you the best....
Abbie

I would definately get a good lawyer. That's another feat in itself. LOL

I would also read up on the laws in your state. In Colorado we have horrible WC laws. I have two friends that got their right arm cut off the same week and boy they had such a fight and still didn't end up with what they should have. Troy was told he won't live to be 50 due to his injuries, his supervisor turned on the machine that ripped his arm off and his guts out and he still didn't come out with what any normal person would know he deserved.

Read up on the laws at the library or on line and see what your state allows for the time you will be off, your age, the cost of healthcare, and anything else that pertains to your injury.

Good luck,
Ada

I have had RSD/CRPS for almost 2 years now. I am only 29, I was 27 when I was injured. The pain, sensitivity issues all of it goes from the tips of my fingers all the way up my right arm up the right side of my neck down into my chest just below the collar bone and about 1/2 way down the right side of my back. WC only cares about the wrist since that is where my injury occurred. I am not working and haven't been for over a year now. I was trying to find a job but with all the doctors and therapy appointments I had no one would hire me. Now I have to do a career change because I cannot do the work I used to do. I am in Vocational Rehabilitation here in NE. They are helping me to try and get a job. I still use my arm but my fingers are trying to stay curled under and I keep laying my hand flat on a table as best I can and move them. Some days the muscles are so weak that I cannot even lift a stupid pen. I've been having more and more bad days than good lately. But anyway, I need to get off here. This is really hurting and anything more than 30 minutes on a computer I'm no good for the next day.

U need to call an attorney asap.. They do have good ones out there., mine is awesome.. I know that sounds funny., but he has helped me fix my car and all sorts of things. I can give you his name since your in Ne and we are not that far away from each other and i think he does cases in Ne. if you like.. I sent you a Pm.. Read that.. I cant say it in public forum though.. He can probably give you some names of some good attorneys in your area that might be able to help you.. please call one. I hate to see you get screwed out of what you deserve. In our area, they go with a disability rating as a whole body or as ur injury.. mine is as a whole body.. make sure you get one that is willing to get medical care for the rest of you life as well. and you also get wages for the rest of your life as well that you will lose from the job lost.. and not sure what else.. its all very complicated.. keep forgetting..lol

Oh, one other thing I found out is that you can take a lump sum payment from the ins co or you can have the payments spread out and get monthly payments. I never knew about the monthly payments and would have opted for that method. Also, if you are on SSD they consider the lump sum payment as additional income and you will be docked to a lower amount that you would receive each month. See if there is some way you can designate only certain portions for income, health ins, etc. that way SSD won't consider all of it as income and you can still get more SSD each month. Good luck and let us know how you made out.
kathy d

I did contact a lawyer in GA because this is a GA WC case. She told me not to settle and that I should really have a professional to handle this. So tomorrow I am going to call her again and see if she will take this case. She wants me to get checked by a doctor and see how much it is going to cost me for the rest of my life for treatment and meds. She was also telling me that even though I had to leave my job due to lack of transportation, when I couldn't find a job that would work with me on light duty I should have been getting paid by WC. She also told me that because I haven't been seen by a doctor since July 2009 it has hurt my case a little but I honestly thought I was done with WC because that is what I was told. But she told me no my case cannot be transfered to NE but that I can still be seen by a doctor with approval by WC and they have to pay for it. I feel completely stupid that I didn't have a lawyer from the start. I did call one lawyer back in 2008 but he really didn't seem to care about anything and never did anything so I just stopped it all with him. I am hoping that this lawyer will actually get somewhere. Thank you all for all the posts. They were really helpful.