I live in the US.
I am needing some advice from my fellow Darkroom Disease sufferers.
I was offered a _one time non negotiable_ settlement with no medical care, ( my medical care would have to be from my private plan) and no retraining for a different career.
1.) What are the long term effects? I have "Occupational Asthma" and "Allergies" Any articles I can take to my attorney to prove to him I need this medical coverage?
The amount of money offered would allow me to take about a year off and take online schooling for a paralegal certificate (my choice). Can't think of anything else I could do - if you have ideas please let me know! I could work in an office setting once I received my certificate.
1.) Should I have to use my settlement moneys to pay for another education? I already did that once in my life. Should I push for vocational rehabilitation?
If I do not accept the settlement we would go to trial. The settlement is offered for an "allergy" at 15% of my body as a whole. No mention of the asthma. A friend of mine that worked in worker comp for 7 yrs said not to take anything less than 10%. So, I am grateful for the the 15%. I don't want to sound ungrateful or greedy, just wanting something that is fair. I don't like the wording that this is for an "allergy" when I also have asthma from the chemicals. Should I ask for more since it is an allergy and asthma or do they consider the asthma in the "allergy" wording? Also, my attorney thinks once this is settled that I will be "let go" since they can not find me a position that does not affect me in someway. What has been your experience after you left working in the chemicals? Did you feel better? Are you still having issues? I wheeze around hairspray, perfumes, etc. Does this get better with time or does it never go away? (I just received the offer in the mail so I haven't spoken with my attorney about it yet.)
Thanks so much for all of your help!
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Sounds to me like a minimal settlement offer, but you might want to consider the physical and emotional cost of continuing your legal battle. I developed DD at age 40 and thought at the time "I'm too old to change careers." Ha. Fast forward 15 years: still fighting, plus, try making a career change in your mid fifties. Insurance companies have nothing but time and money to spend on grinding down claimants. I'd love to see everyone win their DD claims but the personal costs can be very high.
ReplyDeleteI have had occupational asthma and multiple chemical sensitivity since becoming sick from my chemicals 4 years ago. I must take asthma medication daily, Reactine often, and still wheeze with irritants. I also hive easily with new medications. I am so glad I did not work in my darkroom while it was being repaired, and did not return.
ReplyDeleteI know I will always have sensitivities to perfumes, irritants etc., but most are manageable.