Week 3 – Sir Jesse

This week, we can explore a few related topics. Think back to the collision and the weeks and months right after it. Think about the help you did – or DID NOT – get… and where you got it or wanted to get it from. 

What was good – and what wasn’t? In a perfect world, what support should be there truckers who may go through this in the future?

I was working for my dad at the time of my accident. Thanks to my stepmom who fought tooth and nail, I was able to collect monthly from both WCB as well as my private insurance which is rare. Financially I was ok. In all other aspects I found the process to be a joke. Since I was on WCB I had to see their specialists. They would not let me return to work until I completed 8 weeks of physiotherapy. However they did not have their own therapists in my small town so I drove 2 hours to therapy where I simulated my job for 4 hours with a physical therapist and then drove 2 hours home. It probably would have been easier to go to work.

They also had me see one of their psychologists. She listened to me for a bit and then told me quite simply that I would either get over my fears and continue driving or it would be to much and I should find a different job. I found it laughable that that was the best advice she could give me.

Then I seen one of their chiropractors. He looked at my x-rays and said I did not need chiropractic care. End of story. I have seen multiple chiropractors in the years since. I go to them regularly for a few months but then I get mad that I have the extra expense and scheduling and feel like I am a slave to them and quit going. After a few months the pain will get bad enough that I can’t get off the couch and I’ll book an appointment and start going again. Since WCB’s specialist said I didn’t need it they have never and won’t provide it.

All the specialists I seen were there to look out for WCB instead of my best interests. They are paid to get me back to work as soon as possible but to make it look like they helped so that my case can’t be reopened. I learned to deal with it internally because I realized no one is really interested in helping me. They are all interested in the mighty dollar.