Now What Do I Do?

[st. clare]

Getting Frustrated: I have left multiple voice messages and sent multiple faxes and emails to my attorney requesting a copy of the AME report so that I know what the stated work restrictions are. I want to be able to pursue some sort of income and I cannot do that until I know what the restrictions are so that my PCP who has me still temporarily totally disabled will consider letting me apply for certain work within those restrictions. I am at the end of my financial resources and the PPD rate is not enough to even cover my rent. What rights do I have? I have requested both verbally and in writing a copy of the AME report and I am being ignored. The attorney can sit back knowing he is going to get his 20% and the WC can sit back satisfied with paying PPD and medical but I cannot sit back. There is just me no second income, no rich family to fall back on, so what can I do?

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

From what you wrote before in another Post, you said your Attorney told you this. (He said the AME report and letters to be sent out have not yet been dictated.) It is only my Opinion, but if you attorney told you that, then your attorney only has a Verbal AME report, and nothing in writting yet at this time. I'm very sure if your Attorney had the written report they would send you, and your doctor's a copy as requested. But, I would think the written report hasn't been given to your attorney as of yet, meaning they have no way of sharing it with you.

[st. clare]

Bad Boy Bad Boy Wrote:From what you wrote before in another Post, you said your Attorney told you this. (He said the AME report and letters to be sent out have not yet been dictated.) It is only my Opinion, but if you attorney told you that, then your attorney only has a Verbal AME report, and nothing in writting yet at this time. I'm very sure if your Attorney had the written report they would send you, and your doctor's a copy as requested. But, I would think the written report hasn't been given to your attorney as of yet, meaning they have no way of sharing it with you.

thank you for replying. To clarify my attorney does have a hard copy or written copy of the report his secretary stated that the accompanying letters whatever those are had not been dictated yet. The WC insurance company has a copy as they sent a letter stating they agree with the AME decision. So why is it I cannot find out what the report says? I was made MMI per this AME report 3/17/2010 it is now 04/20/2010 and I have not yet seen it. Also when I asked the secretary to fax a copy to my Dr she stated he can call and have it faxed if he needs it.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

Like I said only my opinion. As for something having to be dictated, would or could only mean the report isn't in proper format or something, and it needs to be in such format before it can be released. Got me, for it's your attorney, and I never seen an attorney withhold anything from their client, unless there was a need too.

[st. clare]

Bad Boy Bad Boy Wrote:Like I said only my opinion. As for something having to be dictated, would or could only mean the report isn't in proper format or something, and it needs to be in such format before it can be released. Got me, for it's your attorney, and I never seen an attorney withhold anything from their client, unless there was a need too.

thank you again. I have no idea what is going on, it is very frustrating. But when the WC insurance letter states "we accept the decision of the AME" then proceeds to tell about the reduced benefit rate etc and also says I am encouraged to go back to work within the restrictions as most people do" Problem is I do not know what the restrictions are. I know what I personally am capable of doing or not doing related to pain and complications from my injury but my opinion does not count.

[st. clare]

Seriously, do I have no recourse? I have left messages and sent faxes to both my attorney and my PCP requesting the AME report or at least the knowledge of what my restrictions are.

I am at my wits end, I cannot survive on PPD benefit payments. I even requested to see if it was possible to get the lump sum of the PPD benefits at least that would give me a little more time to make arrangements to move if need be and avoid eviction notices and phone shut off etc etc.

I have not received one phone call or one piece of documentation from my attorney or my PCP.

I am all alone 1500 miles from family that I have not seen in over a year because I cannot travel, no family or friends close by and cannot even get the decency of some sort of comment regarding my claim even if it is to say like bad boy suggested the proper paperwork is not in order yet ya da ya da ya da.

How do they expect to get a hold of me when I have no forwarding address and no phone?

Should I bypass my attorney and call the WC claims adjuster to find out what I need to know? They seem to know what is going on that is why they accepted my claim and reduced me to PPD benefits.

It has been over a month since the WC reduced me to PPD rate and has been 3 weeks since I initially touched base with my attorney and have followed up multiple times since with absolutely nothing to show for it except increased stress and increased pain caused by the stress like I needed that.

Don't I have any rights whatsoever?

[Cervical_Fusion]

St clare I would think that your treating dr or por would set your restrictions,,,,,talk to your treating dr about your restrictions.