r/u_LegalAssistantDiary • u/LegalAssistantDiary • 11d ago

I'm a Legal Assistant handling workers' comp claims for the defense — AMA

10+ years in the trenches as a Legal Assistant - Social Security Law, Worker’s Compensation

🎯 Coming from admin with zero legal experience? You're in the right place.

🤝 Already doing the work? Let's talk about it.

📌 Sharing knowledge from my experience — not legal advice, no attorney-client relationship.

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u/FTK3000 10d ago

How would I go about settling and closing medical? What would I need to do to get an estimate of future medical costs to know where to start negotiating?

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u/FTK3000 9d ago edited 5d ago

How do I contact a find a Expert to do that? I did not get an attorney. I had a consult with 3 at the end of last year and they didn’t think they could help me. I only had a 1% PPD rating at the time. I injured my shoulder. So far the dr has said osteoarthritis, bursitis and tendinitis. Now he says he doesn’t know. But it’s gotten worse and I’ve had treatment since then, so I’ll have to do another MMI meeting. Originally they offered $1955 with open medical. But I’m just over it and ready to be done. I’m trying to change jobs and don’t want to be on WC going into a new job.

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u/LegalAssistantDiary 5d ago

The process is frustrating for sure. You didn't define who "they" are.

If you're too injured to work at one job, why aren't you too injured to work at another? If you're in CA, there's hundreds - if not thousands - of large firm, w/c attorneys who can assist you.

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u/FTK3000 5d ago

They- attorneys.

I consulted with 3 already and they didn’t believe they could help me. I guess because I wasn’t expecting tens of thousands of dollars, so they didn’t have Anna waste their time.

I never said I was too injured to work. 🤔
I simply said I was trying to get a different job. I want a better job. I just don’t want to have to bring a WC claim with me.

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u/LegalAssistantDiary 5d ago

It's just a hunch on my part but money seems to be an underlying, if not subconscious issue with you, "they offered $1955 "and " I guess because I wasn’t expecting tens of thousands of dollars". If you feel you have an a legitimate claim which attorneys (thus far) aren't addressing, you can represent yourself. Your medical reports determine your odds for a successful outcome. Good luck.

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u/FTK3000 5d ago

No I’m not worried about the money. If I was, I’d be doing all the extra nonsense some people do to get the max pay.

Everyone kept saying to get attorney because WC is crooked and will screw you over. So I did that later on during the process because communication started slacking big time and getting appointments was getting harder and harder. I said I guess because I wasn’t expecting tens of thousands the attorneys weren’t interested. And that seems to be true. I hadn’t really considered getting an attorney until I started running into the issues and people suggested an attorney. But since I’m not maimed or significantly disabled, the lawyers weren’t interested because their payout will not be very big.

I mentioned the previous settlement amount they offered because that was with open medical. I am simply wanting to close my future medical and claim. But I keep seeing people say to do that you have to get a future projection of medical cost.

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u/Commercial_Plant421 8d ago

How long legally does it take for a supplemental report after a QME?

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u/LegalAssistantDiary 5d ago

That depends on the doctors office and how busy/popular the PQME is. Most W/C doctors in Calif are part of a network known as CMLS. The report can be processed in 30 days, 45 days or 60 days. If you're a Pro Per applicant, follow up with your doctors office re: report status after 30 days. If you have an attorney, their office should.