. 
My history
I came to Norway in 2012.
In the same year I started working in a hotel in the center of Oslo.
After a few years the hotel changed hands and was closed. I found another job at Helt Opplagt as a renhold and later as a cantinanamedarbeider. I worked in both positions until the accident that happened on November 20.11.2017, XNUMX while cleaning offices in the center of Oslo.
Accident at work
As always, I was in the bathroom and opened the door wide, putting a stopper under the door so that the door would not close because it had a spring installed that closed the door automatically.
While reaching for the towel paper, the door stopper came off and the door slammed into my face with all its force. My nose was bleeding and I was dizzy. I decided that I had to go to the kitchen and put something cold on my face because the pain was very bad. On the way to the kitchen, I met a friend who said I looked bad and should go home. At first I resisted, but I came to the conclusion that she was right because I wasn't feeling very well, and I decided that if I went to bed I would feel better.
Consequence of the accident
When I got home, I put ice on my face, but my head hurt like hell. I woke up in the morning with a lot of pain and dizziness and I was terribly sick, but I had to go to work in the canteen. After Kristina (the girl who worked at the reception) came, she was talking to me, but I guess I didn't answer her because she said something like "what's going on with you" because I didn't answer her. If everything is fine?. She told me to sit down and I told her I had an accident the night before and the door hit me in the face. She said she was calling an ambulance.
I didn't want to agree to it so she said that she would either call an ambulance or I should go to the legevakt. I figured I'd go after work and she said either I'm going now or she's calling an ambulance. So I got dressed and went.
Effects of the accident
At the emergency room, I was diagnosed with a concussion. I was sent to a neurologist, pictures were taken, etc. I was given a sick leave. I tried to go back to work, but unfortunately the headache wouldn't go away, plus dizziness, balance disorders, sleep problems, etc. Pain medications, sleeping pills, etc. Nothing helped.
Time doesn't always heal wounds
After a few months, my doctor offered to refer me to SMI (a clinic that deals with chronic pain). After talking to the doctor at SMI, I was refused treatment because they decided that 3 months of everyday pain cannot be classified as chronic pain, and they only deal with such cases.
6 months uphill
Only after 6 months from the accident and a detailed conversation with me, the SMI doctor decided to accept me as a patient. We tried very expensive treatments like botox, propofol, anesthesia. Unfortunately, without much results.
I also used many different types of medications, learned how to relax during the day, practice breathing and exercise my body properly (I am a physiotherapist by profession, so luckily I didn't have to spend another big money on a physiotherapist because I managed it myself). I invested in a specialist mat, a pillow and an acupuncture roller. I also bought special cooling and warming mats. I bought a pool subscription. I could list more things that I had to invest at my own expense (without any help from the insurance company) to minimize the pain that attacks me every day.
5 years and still fighting windmills
More than 5 years have passed since the accident. My life has changed dramatically. I can't plan anything for the next day, let alone a few days or months. I don't know if waking up in the morning my headache will be so minor (and it is every day from morning to evening and at night) that I will be able to do what I want or if it will be so bad that the next day I won't be able to get out of bed or do basic things.
The insurance company undermines specialist doctors in Norway
I don't know when or what causes the pain to start. I don't know how long this severe pain will last, whether it's 2h or maybe 6h or maybe 48h. Going through this and accepting the pain I've had every day for 5 years is one thing, but accepting that the insurer who should support me is something else entirely. I've never had a problem with headaches in my life until the accident. When someone told me that he had a headache, I just nodded and said that I never have such a problem. Now I look at it completely differently because unfortunately I experience it myself.
“The diagnosis of specialist doctors is unambiguous, which results in the impossibility of my normal existence. However, as it turns out, the insurance company knows better and rules against me, undermining my pain and the specialists who diagnosed my condition, which I suffered as a result of an accident at work.
Crying and suffering
3 specialists from Fysikalsk medisin og rehabilitering helped me to accept and understand my headache
Sykehuset Innlandet. (Overlege, Spesialergotherapist, Psykolgspesialist) During a very long conversation, almost 4 hours, they explained to me that I am not alone with a headache. PCS (Post Commotio Syndrome) is not easy to diagnose. It is also not easy to cure. They stated unequivocally that, unfortunately, they could not tell me if my headache would go away in a week, a month, 1 years, or if it would ever go away. I have to learn to live with it and hope it happens soon.
Permanent loss of working capacity
They told me what to do in case of a severe headache or a mild one, although it won't always help.
Another challenge and not an easy thing for me to accept was the message from the doctor that at the age of 38 I am not 100% able to work and will be on a disability pension. I who always worked hard, full of energy and spontaneity. Me who likes activity and who was said to be always full of me everywhere. It's not easy to accept that I can't live my life to the full as it was before the accident. The days are coming I can't get out of bed, clean the house, prepare dinner or just get dressed. Of course, I realized that I couldn't work every day because my health wouldn't allow it, but it was still hard to accept.
A completely new approach to life and a constant fight, not only for health
I try to be a positive and smiling person, although sometimes it's just appearances. There are days when the pain is simply unbearable and it is impossible to hide how much and hard it is to face.
The insurer, like an executioner, kills and undermines the facts
I reported the accident to the insurance company my employer purchased insurance for all employees. As it turned out, the insurance company only exists to collect premiums and destroy people. I started looking for help. I have read various information about accidents at work. What should I do, where to report, etc. Unfortunately, most people who had an accident at work and contributed to accident websites said the same thing:
"It doesn't make sense, you can't do anything anyway, I've been through it" "You can't win against the insurance company" "You need a good lawyer, and it's terribly expensive" "I got 20 from the insurance company and they told me to get lost"
In general, only negative and not believing in justice reviews. Most of those people who had an accident gave up right away. Those who tried gave up at a later stage of the fight with insurance companies. I wanted to know what it really looks like. I didn't believe that after the accident that changed my life, Lloyds would wash its hands of it.
The fight has only just begun
I haven't heard back from them for almost two years, so I decided to consult a lawyer.
On 02.01.2019/XNUMX/XNUMX I sought legal advice at the law firm "Ness Lundin" in Oslo, Anders Hauge became my attorney.
Anders sent on my behalf to the company "Matrix" such information I received from my employer (it later turned out that it is only an agency that sells insurance from other companies and all complaints or possible compensation must be directed to the insurance company.
Lloyds Insurance Company SA v/General Representative for Norway advocate Espen Komnæs
From the beginning the company was ignorant and later arrogant, manipulating facts, ridiculing and harassing me. (in the following, I will describe the behavior of the company confirming my feelings towards the insurer).
After a letter from my lawyer, the company stated (despite sending them proof that I had contacted them after the accident by sending the relevant documents) that they had no knowledge of any of my accidents. The next stage of talks with the insurer brought poor results. For a very long time, the company disregarded letters from my attorney, and the request that the company help me financially in any way because I am unable to work due to an accident and I am having a hard time making ends meet. They didn't even address it. I had to cover huge costs related to treatment, prescriptions, doctors, CT scans, etc., despite having insurance.
Lloyds completely ignored the facts and evidence
For almost two years, "Lloyds" completely ignored the facts and evidence (ambulance and hospital report, yrkeskade, post-accident report, my company reporting the accident to Nav, decision to change doors by the company where the accident occurred, etc.) For them, the accident did not happen at work at all. They kept saying that the accident could have happened anywhere and at any time. It took Lloyds almost 4 years to admit that the accident had even occurred. Unfortunately, the accident has further health consequences for me, which continue, but the "Lloyds" company still claims that I am fine.
Total surveillance
In each letter to my lawyer, they distort data, testimonies, facts, invent stories that never happened (a dog bit me in the face, a dog attacked me), and even what the accident itself looked like (despite my detailed conversation with the person responsible for reporting the accident). and take photos). They demanded my medical records in Norway (this is the entire 10-year history) and they had access to every single one a private conversation I had with the doctor before and after the accident. Of course, I agreed because if I refused, they would use it against me for hiding something from them. However, I must point out that it was not easy for me, knowing that all my private conversations about the most intimate matters such as my health would be read by no one knows how many people and dissected just to find something about me.
I felt like someone was robbing me of my intimacy. No one from the insurance company even thought for a second how I felt. As if that wasn't enough, as they already got all the medical records from 10 years, they said they want my medical records also from outside Norway (Poland, Ireland and England). Of course, I can only guess that "Lloyds" reading medical records wanted to find something that would prove that I had health problems or headaches before the accident. There was nothing like that, so they couldn't find it. They demanded more years back. It is completely incomprehensible to me.
Lloyds and experts acting under dictation
Although more than 5 years have passed since the accident, no one from the insurance company "Lloyds" bothered to meet me in person. None of the doctors appointed by Lloyds who made a report on my accident and health (only based on what he found out from the insurance company) also did not see me or even exchange a single word with me.
The company does not recognize the opinion of independent doctors from the hospital in Oslo (although the meeting was held face to face with me and 3 doctors). They do not accept the opinion of a neurologist employed by Nav, an ophthalmologist or an optometrist, for them only the opinion of 2 doctors who are employed ... by themselves is important. Clearly making a mockery of specialist doctors in Norway.
Anything to avoid liability
Lloyds hired an "expert" who went (2 years after the accident) to the site and provided a very long description of what he had done and documented on site. The report commented on by Mrs. Kjesti S. simply and without any hesitation makes fun of me. I don't know how you can treat a person who has been injured in an accident like this, but apparently this lady accepts such standards. The report includes photos of the restroom where the accident occurred. From the photos and description of this lady, the toilet door opens outwards and I was standing inside so there is no way I was hit in the face by the door.
He literally laughs at me saying that the client could not have been injured and implying that I am making it up. Just Mrs. Marianne did not do her job and did not read the description of the accident presented by me carefully, as a result of which she took photos of a bad toilet! The door opened inwards during the accident.
Many times I wanted to quit because I no longer had the strength to respond to every untrue accusation or provocation. Not only did I have to deal with daily pain, but also with "Crowford". Due to the fact that I only worked part-time and was on sick leave and I had no support from Lloyds. I had to move out of Oslo. I just couldn't afford rent, medicines, doctors, and on top of that, sometimes I couldn't get out of bed to make myself breakfast or go to the kitchen to get water, so I needed help with everyday things.
Family
Fortunately, I had the support of my boyfriend, who, knowing about my situation, offered me to move in with him, where he would minimize his living costs and he would be able to look after me.
Unfortunately, after 5 years of fighting for arguments, evidence, reports etc. "Lloyds" still claims that the accident has no consequences. I thought that when they finally accepted the fact that I had an accident, they would also accept the fact that the accident entailed health consequences that I am struggling with to this day and no one knows how long it will last.
I was wrong again. I had no choice but to go to court. Unfortunately, all costs fall on me. I had to pay NOK 230.000 to my lawyer's account to start the case, lawyer and all additional costs! No bank (although I never took any credit) was willing to give me any loan because I had no income, only a rehabilitation allowance of 13.000 nok per month. My boyfriend and now husband took out a home equity loan and paid my attorney the said amount. Unfortunately, it didn't end there. The court decided that it wanted to appoint a court doctor (cost 50-000 thousand NOK). The costs are charged to me as the person who started the case in the court.
So again, it's on my shoulders (or rather mine, my husband and the whole family) to find and borrow a total of 100000 nok (court doctor, witness, documents) and pay to the lawyer's account. Should I give up? After all, that's what the insurance company is all about. For me to just give up.
David and Goliath
How can I otherwise seek help and claim my rights from Lloyds? Only through the courts. I understand now why so many accidents at work go unreported. How many people give up because they know that they will not be able to fight due to the huge costs and the awareness that we are ordinary people and we have to fight a large and rich insurance company.
It is not important in this matter whether we are Poles, Norwegians or of other origin. Just not many people can afford to find 320 NOK to fight for their own. Anyone who decides to fight realizes that winning such a large sum is a huge challenge, risk and sacrifice, because there is no guarantee that the case will be won. Not to mention the stress that my family and I have been dealing with since the beginning of this case.
In this whole matter, I am wondering whether the government is obliged by the government to insure each employee, regardless of whether it is a company with one employee or a huge company that employs thousands of them. The employer spends a lot of our money on insurance each month. We have a sense of "security" that in the event of an accident, the insurance company will rise to the challenge and fulfill its obligation to help the injured party in work to the employee. Insurance companies must start fulfilling their obligations. It cannot be that what counts for them is only profits and not the good of people!
I will not give up and with the support of my husband, family and friends I will fight! If anyone has had an accident at work and has the same or similar experience, please contact me on my email: [email protected]
We will find out how big a group we are and whether there is anything we can do in the fight against dishonest insurers.
Best wishes
Malgorzata Calka-Ruud
Doctors who diagnosed me with Post Commotio Syndrome (chronic post-traumatic pain)
22.05.19/XNUMX/XNUMX Neurologisk poliklinikk Ulevål
13.08.2020 Fysikalsk medisin og rehabilitation
Sykehuset Innlandet (Overlege, Spesialergotherapist, Psykolgspesialist) 3 doctors who spent almost 4 hours talking to me
Spesialist I Øre-Nese-Hals Oslo
Maria A Lege fra Oslo
Sanvika Nevrosenter Spesialist Neurology
Orthoptist
Post commotio syndrome – langvarig hjernerystelse (fysioterapen.no)
It is perfectly described and the symptoms that occur, have occurred or still occur in me
symptoms:
Post Concussion Symptoms
– Headaches
– Dizziness
- Fatigue
– Irritability
– Anxiety
– Insomnia
– Loss of concentration and memory
– Ringing in the ears
- Blurry vision
– Noise and light sensitivity
