My job as a motorcycle mechanic has a lot of risks involved. I recently witnessed a colleague lose several fingers as they got caught in a chain. Before that, I was around when one of my co-workers lost a foot when a petrol tank exploded.
In both instances, the owner of our bike shop was quick to put the blame on my co-workers because by calling them negligent. But then these two mates are twenty year veterans of bike building. As far as I know, they were already designing and building custom motorcycles while I was still a spark in my parents’ eyes.
So to accuse the first guy of being responsible for his own injures was something that took everyone by surprise. But accusing the second guy of the same thing was an even bigger shock because everyone treated everyone else like family.
Being a close-knit shop, both these guys tried to work out a way for the owner to just pay for their medication. In the interest of friendship, they did not want to push for damages from the loss of fingers and a foot.
But as our shop owner stubbornly stood his ground, my mates had no choice but to file for an accident at work claim in order to get medical relief.
Knowing that their skills lay in bike building and not in law, each one hired a lawyer through a No Win No Fee arrangement. By not having to pay for anything, my mates were able to channel their salaries in to recovering from their injuries as the case took its course.
The cases they filed were eventually settled but the damage to their friendship, as well as to the company morale, was permanent. Prior to these two injuries, we trusted each other. Now, everybody kept looking over their shoulder.
While everyone was relieved that my two mates recovered from their physical injuries, everyone was saddened as the break to our emotional bonds never recovered.
We eventually left the company because things were not the same anymore. Hopefully the new companies we joined will be different and no one will need to file an accident at work claim in case of an injury.
Showing posts with label Work Accident Claim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Work Accident Claim. Show all posts
Sunday, 28 April 2013
The Compensation from a Work Accident Claim is the Only Thing I will Leave my Family when I am Gone
I have always considered myself a careful man. As far as my diet is concerned, I eat a balanced one by consuming as many vegetables with my meat during meals. I drink milk and take a two glasses of wine a week to keep stomach and heart in good shape. I also exercise three times a week to make sure my muscles are in tip top shape. I do not smoke nor do I take any prohibited substances. I also avoid even the smallest amount of fat by cutting it off before consuming my food.
I am equally careful at work and have never been in any accident. Needless to say, I never needed to file any work accident claim as I am as safe as they get.
So I was in shock when my doctor told me that I have lung cancer and that it is incurable. After the initial shock disappeared, I was so angry because I had taken care of myself all these years.
Had I known that I would end up dying this way, I would have done all the bad stuff my friends have been doing. I would have eaten more red meat, smoked like a chimney, and go binge drinking. I might have lived longer; and if I didn’t, would have had more fun in life.
Seeing that my lifestyle and genes did not indicate any lung cancer, my doctor delved in to my work history more closely. And at one point, he found that I had been exposed to high levels of lead, fibreglass, and asbestos. The exposure was traced to my summer jobs in construction during my younger days.
According to my doctor, the levels that I was exposed to were so toxic that I was fortunate to have lived this long. And while I understand he may be trying to get me to cheer me up, I just did not feel fortunate.
He then informed me that I had three years to file a work accident claim from the moment I learned of the injury. So even if my exposure was twenty years ago, I still had the opportunity to secure damages to pay for treatment.
I briefly considered whether I should still file a case as I doubt I would survive to see it ruled in my favour. But with a wife and grandchildren to leave behind, I see that they will, at least, benefit from my leaving them too soon.
I am equally careful at work and have never been in any accident. Needless to say, I never needed to file any work accident claim as I am as safe as they get.
So I was in shock when my doctor told me that I have lung cancer and that it is incurable. After the initial shock disappeared, I was so angry because I had taken care of myself all these years.
Had I known that I would end up dying this way, I would have done all the bad stuff my friends have been doing. I would have eaten more red meat, smoked like a chimney, and go binge drinking. I might have lived longer; and if I didn’t, would have had more fun in life.
Seeing that my lifestyle and genes did not indicate any lung cancer, my doctor delved in to my work history more closely. And at one point, he found that I had been exposed to high levels of lead, fibreglass, and asbestos. The exposure was traced to my summer jobs in construction during my younger days.
According to my doctor, the levels that I was exposed to were so toxic that I was fortunate to have lived this long. And while I understand he may be trying to get me to cheer me up, I just did not feel fortunate.
He then informed me that I had three years to file a work accident claim from the moment I learned of the injury. So even if my exposure was twenty years ago, I still had the opportunity to secure damages to pay for treatment.
I briefly considered whether I should still file a case as I doubt I would survive to see it ruled in my favour. But with a wife and grandchildren to leave behind, I see that they will, at least, benefit from my leaving them too soon.
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