Fiance Hurt on the Job Almost 3 Years Ago

[nisc0255]

My question involves workers compensation law for the state of: MN

My fiance works for a company that manufactures ammunition. While working on a machine a bullet exploded and shot him in the chest. He was rushed by ambulance to the hospital where he had chest tubes placed due to a collapsed lung. He was in the hospital for a few weeks then off and on during the first year for surgery and monthly dr appointments. The insurance company took care of all of his dr bills and workman's comp paid him while off of work. He is still currently employed full-time at the same company. We talked to a lawyer right away because everyone was telling us that he could get some kind of settlement. Well...the guys didn't do much for us at all...I mean no information or anything... He has reached "maximum medical improvement" and has lost about 30% of his lung function. He is still living in pain...he was on pain medication but decided to stop using them for fear of becoming "addicted" to them. My question is...What is our next step? Can he get a settlement? Who do we need to talk to?

Oh yeah...the lawyer we had gave us a sort of sliding scale of how much money he could recieve for each percent of funtion lost...is this all he could get? How and when do they pay?

[wirewalker]

Personal opinion about being addicted to pain meds.If you need them, use them, don't abuse them but just as you would take an antibiotic, take a pain med. Your body does react differently, if you are in pain and you are using the med for treatment from the "drugs" as a recreational purpose.

If his lung capacity is reduced 30% and he is in constant pain... is it time to look at filing a disability claim? Only you all can decide this because it is a tremendous life change, still there doing that.

Pain is a dangerous thing. It will cause your body to compensate eventually in some way. It will rob your of sleep, concentration, short term memory, patience. It is better to treat than to ignore.

Get yourself or your finance educated. What are the side effects of the meds.? Get blood work done regularly at least once a year to see if the liver is effected.

Keep good records.

Your fiance is risking loosing his benefits if his case is not active. In my situation, can't speak 4 you, if there is no activity in my case for 2 years the case is closed and is harder than than I want to think about to get it reactivated.

When you Settle they will Pay very quickly. It is hard to prove that he is in pain if he is not filling the Rx on a regular schedule for pain....I believe they will consider the cost of the meds in the settlement...