From the Factory Floor to Freedom
ONE CLIENT’S STAND FOR MEDICAL INDEPENDENCE
At Holland & Usry, we live by one motto: “It’s about you.” Joe’s story is a perfect example of that principle in action. Typically, I advise clients to hold off on settling their South Carolina workers’ comp claims until they’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) and received a permanent impairment rating. That’s how you truly understand the value of your case. These settlements carry big implications, like whether you can get future medical treatment for your injury. It’s not a decision to rush.
He spent two days in the hospital. Though his brain injury didn’t meet the most severe legal definition, it was still life-changing. He suffered constant headaches, memory issues, and poor sleep. Pain management helped somewhat, especially targeted neck injections, but he still wasn’t the same. Eventually, he resigned. Joe didn’t give up. He pivoted careers and became a licensed home inspector, passed a state exam, and built a new future on his terms. Still sharp and capable, Joe knew what he wanted: to control his own care without asking permission from workers’ comp. I explained what rights he’d be giving up by settling. He understood, so I sent a demand letter detailing his injury, treatment, and goals. The insurer met our number: $75,000. Joe gave up future medical coverage but gained his freedom. I might have chosen a different path, but it wasn’t about me. It was about Joe. And he made the choice that fit his life best. I’m just glad I could help him get there.
But Joe had other plans.
He was tired of the insurance company calling the shots and dictating when and how he could see a doctor. He wanted his independence back, and if the insurance company could meet our terms, he was ready to settle. And that’s what we did. Joe had worked at a custom door manufacturer for three decades. At the time of his injury, he was a production manager overseeing schedules and employees. His accident was brutal: While working in an attic, he fell down stairs and slammed his head on a steel railing. He was knocked unconscious, then tumbled down the stairs, hitting his neck and shoulder. A coworker found him disoriented, with dilated pupils and no memory of the event. EMTs initially thought he’d had a stroke.
*Past outcomes don’t guarantee future results. Every case is different, and all cases depend on unique facts and laws.
Good News
Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars
Ingredients
• 1 pt strawberry ice cream • 1/4 cup strawberry preserves • 1 pt vanilla ice cream
• 1 5.25-oz package crispy sugar cookies • 1 0.8-oz package freeze-dried strawberries
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” –1 Peter 5:6–7 “When I thought, “My foot slips,” Your steadfast love, O LORD, helped me up. When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul.” –Psalm 94:18–19
Directions 1. Stir strawberry ice cream in a large bowl until spreadable. Fold in preserves until evenly streaked throughout. 2. Stir vanilla ice cream in a separate large bowl until spreadable. 3. Spoon 1 1/2 tbsp of the strawberry mixture into the bottom of 8 (1/3- cup) popsicle molds. Spoon 1 1/2 tbsp of the vanilla mixture on top of the strawberry mixture into the molds. Repeat, alternating the 2 mixtures, until each mold is full. 4. Place sticks into the popsicles and freeze until solid, 4–6 hours. 5. In a large zip-lock bag, crush sugar cookies with a rolling pin until pieces are rice-size; pour into a shallow dish. 6. Repeat with freeze-dried strawberries and stir the pieces together. 7. Run the ice cream molds under warm water to release popsicles from molds. 8. Coat bars evenly with cookie mixture. 9. Eat immediately or place on a cookie sheet and freeze.
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