Retraining after auto accident?

by fireyone » Mon Mar 03, 2008 05:56 pm

If you are in an auto accident that wasn't your fault is it possible for the other company to pay for any type of retraining? I have been diagnosed with RSD following a car accident. I worked for a greenhouse that requires a lot of heavy lifting and physical tasks involving using my injured hand (it was my dominant one.) so if I would have to take a lower paying job at this same place or the job is too difficult where does that leave me?

Total Comments: 13

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 06:38 pm Post Subject:

Great question, glad to see that you have come and posted it as its own thread, I want to see what the adjusters have to say on this one. I needed to put a post here, so that it would go under my discussions. thanks for posting this fireyone.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 09:19 am Post Subject:

I have been diagnosed with RSD following a car accident.



You haven't mentioned whether the accident has caused you the pain or not. At times multiple reasons may attribute towards the RSD. The reason behind the suffering needs to be identified. The insurer is liable to pay for the damages caused by their insured. By the way, RSD is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome. :D

The insurer will cover the loss of income, though I'm not sure whether or not they'll cover the cost of retraining. It may depend upon the insurer.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:52 am Post Subject:

Yes believe me I know all about RSD,since the accident. I never had a problem before the accident. My damages to my arm are caused by the airbag. When I relized the lady was going to hit me I put up my arm to block it from hitting my face bacause I had contacts. I was worried that my eyes would swell and I wouldn't be able to get them back out. I have seen people who got hit by those things. Anyway I went through all the motions...physical therapy, testing and so on. After a couple months the swelling still didn't go down and it always still looked bruised. I was sent to different doctors to and they confirmed my own personal doc's diagnosis...RSD, due to auto accident.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 01:58 pm Post Subject:

I think you probably have a good arguement for some type of occupational therapy I'd start with my doctor and see if he will 'order' it . more than likely there would be an evalutation done then a recommendation, I'd discuss it with my adjuster after the doctors agrees it is warranted.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 07:05 pm Post Subject:

Lori, do you think that retraining is an option? Do you ever see this happen when it would be difficult for someone to pursue their current work? I am following this post and wondering if this is an option. I was happy to see fireyone post this as an individual post on its own.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 08:50 pm Post Subject:

What is occupational therapy exactly? Sorry I never even heard of it but I am definately interested in finding out more. At the end of last year my doc already mentioned if the results showed RSD ,with my line of work ,that I should think about a change. I put it aside in my head for a couple reasons...1, I didn't want to except that it wasn't fixable...2. I wanted more tests so I knew without a doubt that it was truly RSD and not being just written off as that.

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:35 am Post Subject:

Lori, do you think that retraining is an option? Do you ever see this happen when it would be difficult for someone to pursue their current work?

Oh yes I've seen occupational therapy paid several time...for instance if someone gets their fingers severely injured and maybe they were a transcriptionist for example and can no longer preform that function...there are occupational therapist that assist the patient in either re-training or finding an occupation that they CAN now do with their limited function.

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:56 am Post Subject:

It is really nice to hear that occupational therapy is offered. That is one of my major cocerns in my situation. I want to go back to work when the greenhouse reopens in a month or so to test the waters and see exactly how much and just what all I can do. I'm not one to not work and hope that it is possible. If I go back and it doesn't work out for me will it hurt my case in any way?

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:09 am Post Subject:

I wouldn't think so in fact I'd think the opposite...If you give it a good try, and you just cannot do it anymore....make sure however that you are documenting all these things with a doc! Very important, the doc is the one that needs to say you cannot do this type of work....(should that unfortunately be the case). So in other words if you find you are having trouble get right back to the doc immediately.

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