Repeat, once a year…
A letter to an Insurance Company
I am writing in response to your request for additional information on my
insurance claim. In block #3 on the accident reporting form I put "poor
planning" as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should
explain more fully and I trust the following details will be sufficient.
I am an amateur radio operator, and on the day of the accident I was working
alone on the top section of my 80-foot tower. When I had completed my work, I
discovered that I had, over the course of trips up the tower, brought up about
300 pounds of tools and spare hardware. Rather than carry the now un-needed
tools and materials down by hand, I decided to lower the items down in a small
barrel by using a pulley, which fortunately was attached to the gin pole at the
top of the tower.
Securing the rope at ground level, I went to the top of the tower and loaded
the tools and materials into the barrel. Then I went back to the ground and
untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 300 lbs. of
tools. You will note in block #11 of the accident reporting form, that I weigh
only 155 lbs. Due to my surprise of being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I
lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I
proceeded at a rather rapid rate of speed up the side of the tower. In the
vicinity of the 40-foot level, I met the barrel coming down.
This explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I
continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were
two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my
presence of mind and was able to hold onto the rope in spite of my pain. At
approximately the same time, however, the barrel of tools hit the ground and
the bottom fell out of the barrel.
Devoid of the weight of the tools, the barrel now weighed 20-lbs. I refer you
again to my weight in block #11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent
down the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40-foot level, I met the
barrel coming up.
This accounts for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations of my legs and
lower body. This encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my
injuries when I fell onto the pile of tools; and fortunately, only three
vertebrae were cracked.
I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the tools, in pain,
unable to stand, and watching the empty barrel 80-feet above me – I again lost
presence of mind. I let go of the rope.
_______________________________________________
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