Injured in Hawaii and need advice

riho · #1 01-25-2005, 11:45 PM

Hello to all. Im new to this so if i am out of line at anytime please assist me.

I worked at a refinery in hawaii and had to have a back fushion. the resulting accident has cost me my job and i dont know what to do now and who to believe. CAn anyone direct me to a service or group or whatever to help with questions?

Some questions i have are
1. do i need to get a lawyer?
2. anyone know of any?
3. what are compensation limits i can expect to receive?
4. should i trust what ever the insurance company says?
5. since the accident and surgery i cant even wash my own truck and i have been on oxycotion (morphine pills), vicodine, celebrex adn neurontin. I have two huge bags of empty med bottles since the accident of july 2002. the surgery was in jan 2004 and im just now realized that i cant do my job and have been scheduled for voc rehab.
6. should i wait to talk to a lawyer? since i dont know what limits of disability i will have?
6. i dont want to use up the free consultation just to be told i should get something for losing my normal life.
7. i dont want to recieve any more than what should be fair
8. how much does a lwayer cost for my case in hawaii?

would really appreciate any help with this

thank you all
riho

Anonymous · #2 01-26-2005, 06:51 AM

Quoting riho

1. do i need to get a lawyer?

You do not need to get a lawyer. However, it can be very helpful to consult with a lawyer to determine your rights, and to find out (as is sometimes the case in workplace injuries) if there is a possible third-party defendant who might be subject to litigation over your injuries.

Quoting riho

3. what are compensation limits i can expect to receive?
6. should i wait to talk to a lawyer? since i dont know what limits of disability i will have?
7. i dont want to recieve any more than what should be fair

Your lawyer can guide you to the type and amount of benefits you should receive.

Quoting riho

8. how much does a lwayer cost for my case in hawaii?

For workers' compensation, you would agree to a fee with the attorney you retain, and that fee will be subject to approval when you resolve your case. You can ask around, to determine the typical fee.

Quoting riho

6. i dont want to use up the free consultation just to be told i should get something for losing my normal life.

If you don't utilize the free consultation, you'll be in your present position of not knowing how to proceed. Besides, there has to be more than one attorney in town who offers a free consultation, so you can use one up without fear of "running out".

riho · #3 01-29-2005, 09:23 PM

god bless you for being here.

Mr.Harris · #4 01-29-2005, 10:17 PM

riho,
I am also in Hawaii and was injured in june of 2003, I just had a microdiscektomy to my L-5 S-1 area of my lower back, and I too am trying to come to grips with my future disability,my case has been a mess! my doctors have been nice but my pcp has had difficulties following th W.C. paper work proceedures and my employer carrier has been anything but helpfull,while I have suffered torturous pain every single day,while getting relief only from my pain medicines they have denied my treatments over and over even though the medical evidence including EMG and MRI findings have shown serious problembs,they have used a video of me appearing normal,for example getting some groceries or watering plants on my Lanai.they sent this video to some quack in Portland Maine and had him write a report saying that there appeared to be nothing wrong with me,with no mention of the fact that I was taking strong pain medications,even though my doctors records at the time showed that I told my doctor that when I take my medicine (morphine AND Hydracodone) "I feel almost normal at times" yet when they wear off I have intense pain in my back and legs as well as my hip area.any ways they use this report as basis for denying my treatment,and I fortunately have quest which has agreed to pay for the care I need in spite of the denials I was able to have my surgery that I needed because my back and leg pain was getting so bad that the meds weren't helping near as much.anyways I strongly advise you get an attorney! and I strongly advise you not to meet with any of their doctors unless youre attorney aproves,I hope your doctor is experienced with W.C. Precedures,I can't recommend an attorney as I am in the process of researching for a new one for I am not happy with mine.I hope everyones experiences aren't as bad as mine but my feeling is that most insurance companies are greedy heartless scum who don't care if they destroy someones life,I have a very supporting wife and a beautifull 17 month old boy that strengthen me to fight their sleezy tactics no matter how long it takes,all I'm asking is full medical support to do everything possible to help me have less pain and less pain pills,and fair compenstaion for the disabilities I will have to live with,and remember youre only as good as youre worst day!

riho · #5 02-01-2005, 07:56 PM

I was injured 7/22/02 while at work. i damaged my L5-S1 disc to teh point of requiring a fusing with bolts rods and a cage. My meds are oxycotion20mg Vicidine 500mg celebrex 200mg and neurontin 300mg all 2 times a day with less than mediocre results for pain relief. although without them even after the surgery i hurt like a screamimg banchee with a broken throat. i was a refinery operator and had to come to realize that i was not going to resume my life as before. the income i will lose over the rest of my life is a bitter thought to me but a realization of how anything can happen at any time.
My insurance carrier has been great to me and the doctor i have has been ok to me.
i would love to be able to meet with you sometime to discuss other items is this possible?

riho

Anonymous · #6 02-01-2005, 09:50 PM

Please feel free to take advantage of the messaging feature of this board if you wish to exchange contact information. However, for your own privacy, you probably do not want to post your personal contact information in a public forum thread.

riho · #7 02-03-2005, 12:11 AM

my email address is listed i could be contacted that way

riho · #8 02-07-2005, 08:15 AM

I'm not sure if this should be posted here in in other issues thread. Since I started here, I would like to continue.

I recieved notice from my LTD insurer that I was approved for the LTD coverages but only for a period of 2 years. When I contacted them they said that that was the term of the policy from my company and it is.

My questions are "What do I do after the 2 years as far as future regular medical and health coverages? Also what about my normal dreams of working again and life in general?" After all, I did get hurt on the job by a preexsiting situation that wasnt corrected until I was hurt. And now I am unable to work at my preinjury job and I have started Vocational Rehab to find another job but the results of the FCE (Functional Capicity Evaluation) has deterimined that I am at / about 10% capability.

rick

Anonymous · #9 02-07-2005, 11:06 AM

It is my understanding that in Hawaii, workers' compensation payments for partial disability are limited in their duration. That is, there is a maximum number of weeks for which a partially disabled employee may obtain benefits. Obviously, it would benefit the employee to take maximum advantage of vocational and physical rehabilitation programs during that period.

If you wish to know precisely how those limits apply to your situation, and what other benefits you might avail yourself of so as to minimize any long-term consequence to your ability to earn a decent wage, I suggest you consult with a workers' compensation attorney in Hawaii.