Crush injury to foot @ retail store

[ghidrah]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

Hi. I was shopping in a large chain retail store on May 13. I was in their garden center and two employees ran into my shopping cart, running the handle of the cart up under my ribs. I just had gallbladder removed 6 months ago and that's right where it hit me. Not only that, the pallet jack ran up over the side of my foot, crushing and twisting it. I immediately limped to the front of the store and filled out an incident report and have already been to the urgent care, emergency room and a dr and have been contacted by their insurance company.

Xrays show that no bones are broken in my foot. CT Scan showed injury to my muscle under the ribs. I have been to the foot dr (last week). He fitted me with a "boot" and gave me Lyrica for the nerve pain. It must be serious because the medicine only worked for about 3 days. Now the pain is worse than ever and I can feel it in at least 2 distinct places in my foot AND ankle. I am going back to the Dr. tomorrow who is going to order an MRI since I am only getting worse. He says that it is likely compartment syndrome, and if left untreated, the muscles in my foot can DIE!!!

Without the MRI, my medical bills already exceed $6000.

So, my question is this...what is their lame ass insurance company going to offer me cause the nameless giant probably caused permanent injury to my foot? I didn't "slip on a grape" or "stub my toe"...THEY RAN OVER ME! There was one of those video camera balls practically right overtop of us! I have no idea what they are going to offer and I'd like to have some clue. I want to have a plan of action in case I have to tell them to shove it!

My job requires me to walk. I cannot DO my job without walking. I have been out of work for 3 weeks now! I'm so upset that I can't pay my bills or anything and the medical just keep rolling in. I'm not sleeping. I've been awake now for almost 3 days and nights, aside from an hour nap here and there. This is such total crap! I know they're going to screw me! I'm simply falling apart here! HELP!

Thanks!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[IsabellaSoriano]

you really REALLY should get an attorney. this is NOT a do it yourself project.

[ghidrah]

I would LOVE to get an attorney, but I have spoken with three different places and they all tell me that since I don't have a fracture, they aren't interested and that I'll get the same amount with them or without them. I guess there aren't enough $$$ signs in it for them? Maybe cause I'm not a raving lunatic about it, I don't seem like I'm hurt enough? I don't know. I'm just being run around and around in circles and can't get any help.

Thanks for your reply and if you know of an attorney in Ohio who will be willing to take on my case, send him or her my way! They all sounded interested til they heard where it happened...then they seemed like they couldn't get off the phone with me fast enough!

[ecmst12]

You need to have a little patience. A lawyer can't know if your case is worth anything until you have a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan and what the likely outcome is. Once you have that, shop around for attorneys again. In the meantime, simply tell the insurance company that you are still in treatment and when you are ready to discuss settlement, you will let them know. You do NOT want to even think about settlement until your treatment is complete and you KNOW what the permanent damages (if any) will be.

[ghidrah]

Thanks...it's all just so frustrating. All I wanted to do was buy a few things and I end up like this! I'll just have to try to be more patient, I guess. I should know something by next week. I hope so, anyway!