As a worker that got injured on the job, here is my take and experience on the whole "workers comp" from an employee's veiwpoint.
Broke a leg in a simple routine job and had only worked for this employer for a couple months.
My experience with my employer.
Good guy, although you could tell he was coached by lawyers as to what to say and when to say it. Made me feel very like I was faking or somehow trying to take advantage of him. I could tell it was not his normal personality, but out of fear of being sued he had his gaurd up. Understandable.
Insurance people. Again, I think the nurses and w/c agent were sincere but you could tell that they were coached from the lawyers.
Doctor. Again, either from oath or by nature you could tell he cared for his patient, but again it's a w/c claim and therefore he's in the middle torn between keeping the patient happy and at the same time keeping the person writing the check happy.
Me, I felt bad, especially for only having worked for this guy a couple months and now I was responsible for driving up his w/c rates. I got off of w/c very early, made my own secondary and third cast from supplies off the internet and home depot. I never solicited an attorney and while they settled and wrote me a check for $3100, I never asked, threatened, suggested, or anything like that for money. I guess the settlement is kinda required by the state of Missouri and the Judges frown on the insurance company if some kind of settlement is not offered and taken. I took the money, paid some bills and used the left over to take my son on his summer vacation. Sure I could of given the money to the company owner, but I doubt he would of taken it, and the vacation made up for not being able to take my son on vacation the year before when I was messed up, paying somebody else to mow my lawn, having my 6 year old son help with grocery shopping, moving my leg around, fetching me water, etc,.........the rental hospital bed that I had to pay for, the 2/3 wage of what I would of made, having my elderly parents take care of me, instead of the other way around, etc, etc, etc.
No real point to my story but in my opinion,
I hate people that take advantage of it because it makes people with legitimate claims suffer and causes high rates for people/bosses that are supplying jobs, however I hate people who think that every employee is looking for a free ride. There is no simple answer.
BTW, I know this guy and his nephew visit this site so I'll say this, while I don't get along with either one, (for different reasons) I don't have hard feeling for them and I never did mean for my accident to occur. For what its worth, both the fellow and his nephew are extremely good at their jobs. They are fearless climbers, well educated, dedicated towards aborculture, and take care of their customers. As some on this website already know, I just don't work well with others.