[url]ar15.com/forums/topic.html?id=132077[/url]

sorry for the cross link but I am in dire straits.

Thanks,
Del

Find the biggest comp firm in your area. They will have the biggest and best variety of their doctors (called whores in comp land) who will claim you are 100% disabled and it is caused by employment.
They will also have the greatest experience with the whores used by the insurer and will know how to cross exam them.
Then they will fight and yell, and a big claimant's firm will do that best.
Then you will have your hearing.....
Bigger is better in comp land.

Good advice, thanks!

Del

Ditto on the Comp specialists, and as Happyshooter said, a big claimant's firm can probably do best.

I had someone in the field explain the procedures in contested claims to me once, and it was more convoluted than you'd imagine.  After an hour, my head was spinning.

Some solo practitioners are quite familiar with the law, but at least one I talked to here about a young friend's case, was either so greedy or so unable to front any expenses, he wouldn't take anything but a "slam-dunk" case --where he was absolutely assured of getting a settlement with minimal work.  

I imagine he would have jumped on the first offer that came and then beat his client up to take it so that he could get a quick contingent fee.

This guy was amazing to me, and thank God he's the exception (out of many attorneys I've talked to) that came off as such an ass.

been there done that........!!!!!!

you must have at least two seperate disabeling injuries, damn good lawyer & the patience of God.....!!

18 years ago it took me three & a half years, to get in front of a federal judge, when he interviewed me, my wife & two "character" witnesses as to my claim & medical files..., after he declared me totaly disabled, i got two & a half years worth of SSD pay, plus i went after work comp. for failure to pay payments which were tripled as their fine... & the third party who was responsible for my initial injury....., in case you are wondering about third party, it is a sub-contractor who comes into your work place & causes injury to a person not employed by them

depending on your age & years worked as to your final settlement....., after it was all done & over, the lawyer got 30% of nearly $300,000, now all i get is my monthly disability chk & interest/dividends from the investment i made.....

being in Delaware may make a difference, i was in Colo. at the tyme...........

First comp dep I ever took, I had heard the guys in the comp department joking about the 'whores' but figured they were pumping up the story.
I got a short notice emergency 'Hey you' call to go take one, again my first.
I got there a little early and reviewed the file. It was our doctor, and he asked me, first thing after "hello", "What can I do for you today?"
Then and now I always say "tell the truth"
They hate that. They tell the same story anyway, but it reminds them what they are.

In CA the lawyers are limited to something like 14% of the settlement, and there's basically a cap to what you can collect so they work in volume.  Don't expect a lot of personal service.  

If what you want is to get the best treatment and regain as much function as possible, keep in mind that everybody in the system basically wants to get paid, and the worse you are the better it is for them.  

It's up to you to know your condition, learn how the law works, understand the treatments offered, and take responsibility for getting better.  Hold people accountable for their actions, but don't get caught up in blaming or in being a "victim."

Just remember, to everyone else, you're just another case.  But to you and your family, it's your life we're talking about.

Good luck!