intentional workers comp fraud or jinx

Earlier today my next door neighbor (cool guy) and I were outside bullshitting, and some how the following disscussion came up: My neighbor works @ a local major grocery store as a butcher and soon he will be a union member. We half jokingly, half seriously discussed him going to work and cutting his finger intentionally(seriously enough to go to the hospital/ but not to serious as completely severing the finger). Thus for he gets a few days off and a check from the union (or grocery store) for medical fees (which he would pocket). Sure enough I call him since he hasn't got home from work yet, and a friend of his stopped by my house looking for him. He answers and says "my phone is about to die and I'm @ the hospital, cause I cut my finger @ work". I'm pretty sure he had no intention of perpertrating this scam tonight, I think he jinxed himself, and this was an accident. I guess I'll know when he gets home. This leads me to ask would you intentionally minorly injure yourself for workers comp, insurance claim, pain pills etc..??

Shit no.If you don't feel like working just call in sick.

Sure enough, it was a complete accident. He frikin jinxed himself. Plus he did'nt get any pain pills

Not sure what state your from, but in California, you would be better off claiming any other injury other than cutting a finger. I'm a legal assistant in a work comp firm. In california, you're looking at very minimal compensation for a finger injury. The average max amount of compensation for a finger injury would be around $7K (and that's considering that you have somehow lost the finger physically). As a matter of fact, alot of attorney's are very hesitant or picky about what type of finger injury it is.

You see, in workman's compensation, you get compensated depending on how much permanent disability the work injury has caused.

From my personal advise, it's simply not worth going on workman's comp these days. If the doctor takes you off work and your work comp claim is denied by the workmans comp insurance carrier, you will be screwed and may eventually have to draw money out of your state disability, pending your doctors signature.

Work comp claims can get really ugly. Not to mention, I'd say about 90% of all cases the injured worker's relationship with his employer turns sour or goes down the drain. No company wants to be lieable for an injured worker.

Thanks for the info!!! I'll have my neighbor read that tonight!!