Post 6

Post 6    My Truckalogue

Email to the Benefits Girl at work:
Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 2:25 PM

Hi [Benefits Girl],


I'm so glad I found your business card with your email address on it. I dislike talking on the phone - and when my Mother has a million questions, I can just print her off a copy of the email. You know how Mothers are.


I hate to ask, but when will I start receiving a W/C check? What's the next steps, or procedure? I've never had any experience with W/C and couldn't find anything definite on the web as to how it works.


For myself as well as you, here's a timeline of events:


12/20/08 - Saturday - 8pm Slipped on ice covered pavement at the TA in Bloomsbury NJ. Sent a message shortly thereafter on the Qualcomm "for the record".


12/22/08 - Monday - 10am(?) Delivered load in Meriden CT, then called you about hurting my shoulder. You said that the W/C carrier said to just go to the nearest emergency room. The receiver of the load I had just delivered gave me directions to an emergency facility; although I don't think it was actually a hospital. (I can't remember the name of it, but have sent their form requesting W/C information to you via fax then hard copy via TripPak.)


The physician at this facility did not take any x-rays - mandatory in AL W/C cases according to the W/C physician here. He did not do what I consider a thorough physical exam either, but didn't question his diagnosis that I simply had a bad bruise. Incidentally, there were no marks of any kind in the area where it hurt the most.


7:30pm I picked up a load in Brewster NY that was supposed to deliver in McKees Rock PA by 1:00pm eastern time on 12/23/08.


12/23/08 - Tuesday - 10:45am I realized I could not make the delivery before receiver closed for Christmas. (I had to go 74 miles out of route in very heavy Holiday traffic to get fuel the day before, and I could not recover the lost time.) I was laid over in PA from this time until I delivered the load on 12/29/08. My shoulder was sore/stiff during this period, but because I was inactive, it didn't hurt enough to warrant another emergency room visit. Besides, I'd just been given a diagnosis that nothing serious was wrong.


12/29/08 - Monday - (not sure of the time) Unloaded McKees Rock PA; deadheaded to Mt Pleasant PA; dropped/hooked to a load bound for Ellenwood GA. Was intermittently experiencing sharp stabbing pain in addition to soreness/stiffness in my shoulder.


12/30/08 - Tuesday - 10:30am Unloaded Ellenwood; reloaded Doraville GA bound for Jackson AL but no specific delivery date because I was due home time. Arrived home early that evening. Was intermittently experiencing sharp stabbing pain in addition to soreness/stiffness in my shoulder.


12/31/08 - Wednesday - New Year's Eve. Everything was closed. Was intermittently experiencing sharp stabbing pain in addition to soreness/stiffness in my shoulder.


01/01/09 - Thursday - New Year's Day. Everything was closed. Was intermittently experiencing sharp stabbing pain in addition to soreness/stiffness in my shoulder.


01/02/09 - Friday - (not sure of the time) I called you, and you put me in contact with W/C carrier directly. W/C carrier had to call me back with one of their doctors in my area - I couldn't go to the emergency room since I was home. W/C carrier sent me to American Family Care in town, but by the time I got there, the waiting room was packed with "first come, first serve" patients.


The receptionist told me there'd be a long wait before I could see a doctor. I felt too bad to wait, and the receptionist said I could come back the following Monday - they weren't open on Saturday.


01/05/09 - Monday - (not sure of the time) I was examined by the doctor at American Family Care, then came home and faxed you the first letter.


Later that day a driver came and swapped trailers and I suppose he delivered the load to Jackson AL. That night a team came and picked up my truck. So I've been without a truck since, might as well say, 01/06/09, and couldn't have worked even if I were able. My point is - when does my W/C pay period start? And how much, when, etc. Like I said to begin with, I hate to ask, but I need to know.


On the medical side of things, American Family Care told me yesterday they'd faxed the necessary paperwork to W/C carrier (to approve and MRI somewhere) that morning. Today they told me they'd check on it and call me back. So far I haven't heard back from them.


I appreciate it [Benefits Girl].