Hurt at work (Company-caused accident). All bases covered?

[Pikarya]

http://i52.tinypic.com/21kb3w0.jpg

Pretty sure I've nailed everything so far; but just want to make sure.

The Story:

I was working in an area of the building which has shoddy flooring & is elevated. The floor is painted black (mesh material) and there was a hole within the walking area which could not of been seen due to poor lighting & shadowing of the floor.

Anyways, while I was working. I fell with one leg down the hole and my left foot slammed against the lower concrete ground, causing my ankle and all the jazz to take a shit.

Now to the sweet part:

Someone was injured 2 weeks ago in the same spot. The company told me they filed a request for the floor to be repaired but it was never repaired in that time. (I know this is against OSHA regulations or something like that). And I emailed them 2 days after the incident occurred.

I personally don't want to add fuel to the fire. But I feel if the hole isn't repaired when I go back to general work in a week or so. What should I do then?

Anyways, so far I've;

1. Reported the accident. Did all the paperwork employer-side.

2. Went to the doctor the company referred me to (I understand I can chose my own doctor for a second opinion. But I don't see the point as this isn't life-threatening.). Also the doctor I was referred to gave me everything I felt within reasonable means in terms of care and judgement.

3. All medications, medical support devices have been covered by the company I'm working for.

4. Faxed/emailed my family lawyer all documents pertaining to medical-related costs & injury.


Should I be bitchy? Is there anything else I should do that I missed? I'm not out to do some grand lawsuit.

I just want to make sure BG Law has my back.

Spoiler: show

http://i55.tinypic.com/mtmr6q.jpg

In b4 spilled coffee 1 million dollar lawsuit, fuck yeah America.

[Zeb]

It's not so much if the hole is fixed but being blocked off physically by a barrier. Which your employer should have done immediately after the first accident. If the company still does nothing about it, send a letter to OSHA. They will then send a letter to your employer notifying them that they have been informed about the violation, and that they (your employer) will have a send a letter back to OSHA indicating that they are doing something about it.

*edit* If, when you go back to work and it's not fixed or blocked off, find something to block it off with yourself. But still send a letter to OSHA if your employer isn't doing anything about a permanent repair.

[Pikarya]

Yeah I used the email system on the Dept. of Labor/OSHA's website. I figured it would probably have a quicker reply anyways instead of by phone since its all internal anyways.

If its still not blocked off or fixed when I go back to work in a week, I'm definitely taking pics. Gonna laugh if someone this week goes up there to do my work and falls in it too.

[Darus Grey]

Don't...sign anything. Despite the fact that we laugh about it, sometimes you won't realize the extent of an injury like this for months, once it has "fully healed" and you may realize you have reduced mobility or reoccurring pain because of it.

Best advice I can give.

[Shenrien]

Don't...sign anything. Despite the fact that we laugh about it, sometimes you won't realize the extent of an injury like this for months, once it has "fully healed" and you may realize you have reduced mobility or reoccurring pain because of it.

Best advice I can give.

This, I had an injury at place of work 2 years ago with my back, and now I cant bring myself to have anything heavy on my shoulders cause of the pressure it places on my spine, and I wake up with some nasty pains, and I can't do anything about how the company treated me because I was stupid and signed something while heavily medicated and didn't really even comprehend what I was signing, later found out it was a liability form that said once the company doc said I was fully healed, I was fully healed and if I experienced any future problems that it was because I failed to follow their therapy shit.

:/ I should have sued because they later fired me for lower then expected performance cause I was still in a shit load of pain while doped up, fucking last time I ever ask for assistance lifting heavy objects and having some retard who can't communicate when his grip is being lost and have 400lbs+ give out my knees and go straight on my back.

[Siniroth]

signed something while heavily medicated and didn't really even comprehend what I was signing

I'm not sure you can do anything about it at this point or if you'd want to, but don't those sorts of forms require you be in a completely sober state of mind or your signature is invalid?

[LinktheDeme]

I'm not sure you can do anything about it at this point or if you'd want to, but don't those sorts of forms require you be in a completely sober state of mind or your signature is invalid?

This actually if you can prove you were not in the right state of mind it nullifies most legal binding agreements pretty much

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

I feel like that's wrong. It's only void if the other party has reason to know your incapacitated.

[Darus Grey]

I feel like that's wrong. It's only void if the other party has reason to know your incapacitated.

On top of that, you need to be able to prove it, which you typically can't. Companies pull this shady crap all the time.

[miokomioko]

You could still try to claim Undue Influence... maybe.

[Khamsin]

I doubt he could do anything about being "heavily medicated" at the time. Anyone could sign anything then back out later claiming they just took some NyQuil.

He'd have a case if he had just gotten out of surgery and they made him sign something before the anesthesia fully wore off, or was on a morphine drip or something. But not "just took some pain meds and wasn't thinking straight".

[Pikarya]

Anyways, like I mentioned. This isn't life threatening (like your back or anything long-term). I've broken an ankle before, but not in this method & the damages were not the same parts of the foot.

But yeah, for any future use of anyone getting seriously hurt. Never sign a fucking thing without a lawyer or someone in that field garnishing your back. If I had snapped my neck or something caused by work-fault, you'd bet your ass I'd have an O.J. lawyer setup ready to go.

Also about signing shit while medicated. My employer actually had me go to the pharmacy right after the doctor to take my medication and stuff which literally makes me high as a kite. THEN I went back to the facility to sign papers. So take it for whatever you want in another situation. But I'm pretty sure someone would be safe in that situation since the person was purposely told to get meds first before signing more legal jargon.

[Senji]

Claim its damaging your sex life and putting a strain on your relationship. Gets you more money.

[Ghost_Wheel22]

How is a work injury going to slow his download speeds?

[Pikarya]

My fiancée disagrees with your logic Spock.

Just Saiyan.

[Ragnell]

My fiancée disagrees with your logic Spock.

Just Saiyan.

I love you bby, hope shit goes well


I think everything in this thread has been covered already, hopefully it won't come back and cause you to limp or someshit