I've been a delivery driver for years around Rhinebeck and last winter I slipped on some ice while carrying a heavy box – messed up my knee so bad that after two surgeries my doctor just told me I'll probably have a permanent limp and can't lift more than twenty pounds ever again. I'm only 42 and driving was all I knew, so I'm trying to figure out what kind of compensation I'm supposed to get if I can't return to that line of work. The insurance company offered me a small settlement but it sounded way too low considering I'll be dealing with this for the rest of my life. I've been reading about permanent disability workers comp Rhinebeck NY and it seems like there's a whole different calculation for partial versus total disability, but I have no clue how they decide what percentage of my future earning capacity I've lost. Has anyone here been through the permanent disability evaluation process? How do they measure something like chronic pain or not being able to stand for long shifts? I'm scared of accepting a check now that leaves me struggling in ten years when my knee gets even worse. Any advice on what questions to ask a lawyer during a free consult would be a lifesaver.
