Bryan was a skilled tradesman that knew his craft, the equipment, and the routine. He worked with a partner changing and maintaining the molds on steam presses, and it was a job he had done countless times.  

Before the incident, Bryan had worked his way up and was earning good money. He and his girlfriend Annabelle would spend Sunday's hiking and climbing boulders to find the perfect spot for a picnic. They were also saving up to renovate their home.  

Then a grate failed and the bottom dropped out of Bryan’s life.  

The Day Their World Fell Apart 

Then the grate he was standing on gave way, and Bryan fell 11 feet down, landing right on his tailbone. 

The first questions he asked himself were: Can I feel everything? Am I still here?  He was still alive but nothing would be the same. 

Luckily, someone got in touch with his mother, who got in touch with Annabelle.  

“It was my third day at a new job and I wasn’t supposed to be using my phone,” said Anabelle. “But when I saw that his mom had left a voicemail, I knew something was wrong.”  

A Fractured Spine and A Broken System

The force of the fall fractured two vertebra in Bryan’s lower back, causing him an immense amount of pain. There wasn’t much the doctors could do for him other than make him comfortable and tell him to rest. But the medication the prescribed made him sleep for hours at a time. He couldn't shower on his own, he couldn't use the bathroom without help, and he was almost entirely immobile. 

Annabelle was afraid to leave him alone, so taking care of Bryan took priority over going to work. Eventually, she was let go. 

In addition, Bryan's employer gave him 2–3 weeks to recover, after which workers' compensation was supposed to cover his lost wages. But almost immediately, the system failed him. The case worker originally assigned to his claim resigned shortly after receiving it. His case was transferred. There was a miscommunication. And then there was silence. 

For 14 weeks, Bryan and Annabelle had no income with the bills still arriving, and no way to pay them.  

To keep them afloat, Annabelle took two jobs. 

Every day, she cared for Bryan in the morning before her first shift. She came home to help him shower and make him dinner. Then she left for her night job. If she was sick, she still went in. It took an enormous toll on her body, her mental health, and on their relationship that was being tested in ways neither of them had prepared for. 

It hurt Bryan to ask for help. But every attempt to do things on his own hurt even more. This is the part of a workplace injury that doesn't show up in the incident report: the weight that falls on the people who love you.  

Eventually, they couldn’t make the finances work anymore, so they gave up the house they’d been dreaming of renovating and moved in with Annabelle’s mother. 

Bryan Finally Back at Work. Then Another Blow.

Bryan returned to work four months after the incident. He walked with a cane and could only stand for four hours at a time, which made it difficult to do his job. Something had shifted in his relationship with his employer. Things felt shaky. 

One day, not long after he was back on the job, his boss called him into the front office. This almost never happened and Bryan knew something was wrong.  The secretary handed him a piece of paper and asked him to sign it. 

The document gave Bryan a choice: take a new position he physically couldn’t do or resign. He was given three hours to decide. He asked for 24. That was the last request his employer granted. The following day, Bryan signed a very brief resignation letter front of his bosses that read, “I Bryan Matecka resign my position effective 5/31/2024."  

The Life They're Living Now 

Bryan still has pain when he holds his baby son for too long, and he worries he won’t be able to play with him when he’s older. He hopes, when the time comes, he’ll be able to throw a football with him like his dad did with him. 

The Sunday hikes he and Annabelle used to take have turned into walks around the neighborhood. Sometimes they go swimming. They’ve adapted their lives to meet their current capabilities and it’s allowed them to find a new kind of joy.  

"We can't do all the things we used to do before, but we're making the best of what we can do now," said Bryan. 

What Bryan's Story Means for You 

Bryan's experience is one no worker expects but far too many face alone. 

But workplace injury cases are complicated. It’s often unclear at first who bears responsibility for the injury and to what degree they’re responsible. In addition, these cases often have delays; there can be miscommunications, and employers often pressure the injured workers to return to work before they’re ready or to resign. 

Hiring lawyers for work injuries can help level the playing field in your favor. They know how to preserve evidence, which parties can be held accountable for your injuries, and they will navigate the system for you so you can focus on rebuilding your life.