T
themartinfarm
Guest
Sorry, this is going to be long. I really need some advice!
From October of 2003 until Deceraber 20th 2005 I was working at a job doing allot of heavy lifting. I was the only employee. I was considered "part time" because I worked 7 1/2 hours (considered 7 hours) 5 days a week. I was not aloud to take days off, even when I was sick.
I dealt with allot at this job, but I needed the job.
During that time my back had hurt a few times (maybe 2 or 3 times) but I was young & it would be fine the next day.
I was unloading Palets of heavy boxes Friday Dec 2nd 2005. My back started hurting but it was almost the end of my work day so I continued. I believe it was around 3:30pm & I left work at 4:30pm. It got worst & within a few hours, I was in terrible pain.
I did not have insurance so I dealt with it. I knew that if I filed an L&I Claim I would lose my job. I also pride myself in being a good employee. I have always been dedicated & hard working in everything I do.
I hurt so bad I remeraber being in bed the whole weekend, sleeping most of the time. I remeraber only getting up to use the bathroom & even then, I baby stepped the whole way. I have a very high tolerance for pain & never been one to complain.
By Monday Deceraber 5th I was still in agonizing pain. I had a hard time just walking. I told my Boss what had happened. He told me to do what I could & he'd do the rest.
By Friday Deceraber 9th I was still in horrible pain. My boss asked about my back & I told him I was still in pain. Not long after he sat down to have a conversation with me. He said that he couldn't afford me & needed to hire someone else. I knew he was saying this because I was a liability. He then told me that I needed to find another job & when I did, give him 2 weeks notice so I could train someone else. I just said ok & left since it was the end of my day.
On Thursday Deceraber 15th, my Boss, asked if I found another job. I told him no. He told me I needed to find one. After work I went to the Doctor & filed an L&I Claim. They xrayed my back. It had been 2 weeks since my injury. She figured I sprained a ligament in my back. I was young & took her word for it. It wasn't until now that I realized she didn't actually have a diagnosis, just an assumption.
On Monday Deceraber 19th I called in sick for the first time. I knew I was losing my job anyways.
On Tuesday Deceraber 20th My boss was going through his mail. I seen him open my L&I claim from the Doctors office. He confronted me asking if I filed a claim. I said "yes". After about 10 mins of silence he said "Didn't I tell you that if you took a day off you would lose your job?. I said "No you never told me that, you had said that I wasn't aloud to miss a day, nothing about losing my job". He then said "Didn't I tell you that if you took a day off you would lose your job?". I stood my ground & repeated myself. He was silent. I then asked, "Am I fired?". He said yes & to leave my keys & phone. I gathered my stuff & left.
I then called around to see what I should do. I felt it was wrong for me to be fired because I hurt my back at work. I also wanted to see a Doctor about my back but because L&I denied my claim, there was nothing I could do. Everyone said I needed to hire an attorney. However, I couldn't afford another attorney after the last one. few weeks later I received a letter from the Department of Labor & Delivery stating my claim is denied.
My back has hurt ever since but I have lived with it. I have brought it up to a few different doctors over the years but they never seemed concerned. After my Son was born in Septeraber 2009, my back has been worst. I'm always sore & seems like just about anything I do senRAB me in pain. 4 months ago my husband talked me into going to a Chiropractor. Turned out my back is misaligned in 2 places & I have a "Severe degenerative Thinning of LS Disk". I went to him for 4 months. There is some pressure off the disk, mild improvement... But now the rest of my back, shoulders & neck has been sore. I went to a Specialist recently & had an MRI done. He did agree with my xrays about the disk.
Now my medical bills are piling up.
Can I re-open the L & I Claim? IT will be 5 yrs in Deceraber.
I talked to one person & she says that I should think about getting a Labor Attorney because my boss at the time did not file anything about my injury.
Last week I received a letter from our Insurance company inquiring about my claims. I don't know what to say! They may seek reirabursement for my medical bills. I can't afford that if L & I Won't pay anything...
From October of 2003 until Deceraber 20th 2005 I was working at a job doing allot of heavy lifting. I was the only employee. I was considered "part time" because I worked 7 1/2 hours (considered 7 hours) 5 days a week. I was not aloud to take days off, even when I was sick.
I dealt with allot at this job, but I needed the job.
During that time my back had hurt a few times (maybe 2 or 3 times) but I was young & it would be fine the next day.
I was unloading Palets of heavy boxes Friday Dec 2nd 2005. My back started hurting but it was almost the end of my work day so I continued. I believe it was around 3:30pm & I left work at 4:30pm. It got worst & within a few hours, I was in terrible pain.
I did not have insurance so I dealt with it. I knew that if I filed an L&I Claim I would lose my job. I also pride myself in being a good employee. I have always been dedicated & hard working in everything I do.
I hurt so bad I remeraber being in bed the whole weekend, sleeping most of the time. I remeraber only getting up to use the bathroom & even then, I baby stepped the whole way. I have a very high tolerance for pain & never been one to complain.
By Monday Deceraber 5th I was still in agonizing pain. I had a hard time just walking. I told my Boss what had happened. He told me to do what I could & he'd do the rest.
By Friday Deceraber 9th I was still in horrible pain. My boss asked about my back & I told him I was still in pain. Not long after he sat down to have a conversation with me. He said that he couldn't afford me & needed to hire someone else. I knew he was saying this because I was a liability. He then told me that I needed to find another job & when I did, give him 2 weeks notice so I could train someone else. I just said ok & left since it was the end of my day.
On Thursday Deceraber 15th, my Boss, asked if I found another job. I told him no. He told me I needed to find one. After work I went to the Doctor & filed an L&I Claim. They xrayed my back. It had been 2 weeks since my injury. She figured I sprained a ligament in my back. I was young & took her word for it. It wasn't until now that I realized she didn't actually have a diagnosis, just an assumption.
On Monday Deceraber 19th I called in sick for the first time. I knew I was losing my job anyways.
On Tuesday Deceraber 20th My boss was going through his mail. I seen him open my L&I claim from the Doctors office. He confronted me asking if I filed a claim. I said "yes". After about 10 mins of silence he said "Didn't I tell you that if you took a day off you would lose your job?. I said "No you never told me that, you had said that I wasn't aloud to miss a day, nothing about losing my job". He then said "Didn't I tell you that if you took a day off you would lose your job?". I stood my ground & repeated myself. He was silent. I then asked, "Am I fired?". He said yes & to leave my keys & phone. I gathered my stuff & left.
I then called around to see what I should do. I felt it was wrong for me to be fired because I hurt my back at work. I also wanted to see a Doctor about my back but because L&I denied my claim, there was nothing I could do. Everyone said I needed to hire an attorney. However, I couldn't afford another attorney after the last one. few weeks later I received a letter from the Department of Labor & Delivery stating my claim is denied.
My back has hurt ever since but I have lived with it. I have brought it up to a few different doctors over the years but they never seemed concerned. After my Son was born in Septeraber 2009, my back has been worst. I'm always sore & seems like just about anything I do senRAB me in pain. 4 months ago my husband talked me into going to a Chiropractor. Turned out my back is misaligned in 2 places & I have a "Severe degenerative Thinning of LS Disk". I went to him for 4 months. There is some pressure off the disk, mild improvement... But now the rest of my back, shoulders & neck has been sore. I went to a Specialist recently & had an MRI done. He did agree with my xrays about the disk.
Now my medical bills are piling up.
Can I re-open the L & I Claim? IT will be 5 yrs in Deceraber.
I talked to one person & she says that I should think about getting a Labor Attorney because my boss at the time did not file anything about my injury.
Last week I received a letter from our Insurance company inquiring about my claims. I don't know what to say! They may seek reirabursement for my medical bills. I can't afford that if L & I Won't pay anything...
