More often than not, people aren't nearly as clever as they think they are. Sometimes they are, even if the evidence shows to the contrary. Such is the case in this recent story out of Oklahoma, USA, about a woman who used the tried-and-tested formula of on-the-job injury to make some quick cash.
It's always a shame to read about such stories; first, we don't have the woman's side of the story, leaving us to only hear the employer's version of events. There's also the problem of these accusations likely being true, which is a disservice to the great number of people worldwide who really do get injured at work.
In this particular case, the telltale signs are there. The employee injures herself performing a relatively mundane task and goes to the doctor, who in turns writes it off as something minor. Instead of going to the pharmacy to get some pain pills or muscle relaxants, she goes and hires an attorney.
The long and short of it is this: she goes to a doctor recommended by her attorney and requires a walking frame. She sues (the third time she has sued employers for apparent injuries) and wins a non-negligible sum of money. Did I mention the part that she uses the frame when visiting the doctor but can still sit upright for a few consecutive hours to play at the casino?
Knowing her previous track record, the company very rightly put an investigation on her tail to see how legitimate these concerns are. For reasons that aren't presented in the story, one is left to surmise that their findings were not admissible. It's a pity as this information could have saved the state time (and the employer money). Frivolous cases such as this do a huge disservice to all those who need legal relief for real injuries suffered on the job.
