State of Georgia. I am an EMT that recently had back surgery resulting from lifting a patient while at work. I had to hire an attorney because the first doctor I seen released me to go back to work with restrictions, including no lifting, no bending, no driving, no sitting for long periods of time. W/C expected me to return to work with these limitations. I asked how I was supposed to get to work with no driving and the doctor told me that he could only tell me what I could do after I got to work.... What kind of quack is that???? After seeing the second doctor, a Neurosurgeon, he totally disabled me, and I have had a spinal fusion at L1-2. I have not been released from my doctor yet, but he has already told me that he would never release me to work as an EMT again. My question is what amount of a settlement should I expect? What percentage is normally allotted for back surgery? And does it make a difference that I can never return to work at a job that I enjoyed?

Thanks.