not sure what to do

[sicentird]

What is the name of your state? Ohio

My husband was injured on the job while driving a semi truck carring live chickens. As he came around a turn the trailer shifted its load causing him to flip the whole truck. Thank goodness he was only going 20 mph but the cause of the accident was due to the trailers leaf springs being broken. The company has admitted this and after review of other trailers found another in the same state. My husband did the required pre trip inspection but trailers are constently switched throughout the day and this was not something that could be seen. The garage supervisor has since lost his job.
My question is what can/ should be done? My husband has sustained a shoulder injury and has been going to the doctor to have it evaluated but in the meantime he is still working in a different department which requires harder work on the shoulder. So far the company is being helpfull but the appointments have to be schedualed on wensedays since it the only day they don't work. The company does not want him missing any work. I am concerned because the doctor is saying it could be a torn rotator cuff or torn cartilege. Either one of these injuries can become worse without letting the shoulder heal. The workers comp claim is still pending and the bills are coming to us. How long do these things take to start covering? He also had to take the misdemenor traffic violation for failure to maintain and had to pay the ticket out of his pocket. He has never even had so much as a parking ticket in all his years of driving!
Sorry it is so long but please any advice would be greatly apprieciated.What is the name of your state?

 

[acmb05]

What is the name of your state? Ohio

My husband was injured on the job while driving a semi truck carring live chickens. As he came around a turn the trailer shifted its load causing him to flip the whole truck. Thank goodness he was only going 20 mph but the cause of the accident was due to the trailers leaf springs being broken. The company has admitted this and after review of other trailers found another in the same state. My husband did the required pre trip inspection but trailers are constently switched throughout the day and this was not something that could be seen. The garage supervisor has since lost his job.
My question is what can/ should be done? My husband has sustained a shoulder injury and has been going to the doctor to have it evaluated but in the meantime he is still working in a different department which requires harder work on the shoulder. So far the company is being helpfull but the appointments have to be schedualed on wensedays since it the only day they don't work. The company does not want him missing any work. I am concerned because the doctor is saying it could be a torn rotator cuff or torn cartilege. Either one of these injuries can become worse without letting the shoulder heal. The workers comp claim is still pending and the bills are coming to us. How long do these things take to start covering? He also had to take the misdemenor traffic violation for failure to maintain and had to pay the ticket out of his pocket. He has never even had so much as a parking ticket in all his years of driving!
Sorry it is so long but please any advice would be greatly apprieciated.What is the name of your state?

Why doesn't the doctor have him on restrictions?

If he inspected the trailer he should have seen the broken leaf springs. When they switch trailers he should have reinspected.

You should not be receiving any bills since it was a work related injury.

 

[sicentird]

Why doesn't the doctor have him on restrictions?

The doctor never put him on restrictions.

If he inspected the trailer he should have seen the broken leaf springs. When they switch trailers he should have reinspected.

The leaf springs are under the trailer and not part of a normal inspection. They switch repeately throughout the day and don't have much time to get out of the truck. The trailers are also the garages responsiblity not the drivers at this company. On a side note the company has already stated that it was thier fault not my husbands.

You should not be receiving any bills since it was a work related injury.

The bills are starting to come here since the claim is still pending and I have given the company copies of them all. He goes in tomarrow to see if he needs surgery on his shoulder.

Another question I have is if for some reason he has to not work due to surgery or restrictions which is better, to sit in the garage all day at the company doing nothing and getting paid or collecting workers comp lost wages? From what we have been told so far is that this injury is a pretty bad one and one that will not heal easily.

Thank you for your input acmb05 any more advice anyone?

 

[moburkes]

Did he tell the doctor's office that this is a WC claim? Generally, they then bill the insurance company directly.

 

[sicentird]

Heres an update: My husband went to see the doctor and has torn cartilidge in two places and a possible detached ligament. The MRI was not very clear and the doctor is requesting another one be done. My husband is trying physical therapy for 3 weeks to see if it helps if it dosen't then he will have to have surgery.
The doctor has finally put him on light duty so no driving or lifting anything. The company is being pretty good so far. We still haven't recieved a workers comp claim card with a number to turn into the hospital. The accident happened March 22, 2007. Since we have no claim number due to it still pending the bills are sent to the patient after 30 days. All bills recieved are copied and turned over to the company to handle. The only promble we are having right now is with the hours my husband gets. He use to get 50 - 60 hours a week now he is lucky to get 35. Does workers comp pay for lost hours and if so how do we go about filing??

Thank you for any input.