This is a reproduction of a letter written to an insurance 
company as part of an ongoing correspondence regarding a workers 
compensation insurance claim.  The names of the injured party, 
his employer and the insurance company have been omitted for 
obvious reasons.  Please read on for a good laugh.
     
Dear Sir,
     
I'm writing in response to your request for additional information.
     
In block #3 of the accident report form I put "Trying to do the 
job alone" as the cause of the accident.  In your letter you 
said that I should explain more fully and I trust that the 
following details should be sufficient.
     
I'm a bricklayer by trade.  On the date of the accident I was 
working alone on the roof of a new 3 story building.  When I 
completed my work I discovered I had about 300 pounds of brick 
left over.  Rather than carry the bricks down by hand I decided 
to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley that was attached to 
the side of the building at the 3rd floor.  Securing the rope at 
ground level I went to to the roof swung the barrel out and 
loaded the bricks into it.  Then I went back to the ground and 
untied the rope while holding it tightly to insure a slow 
descent of the three hundred pounds of bricks.
     
You will note in block #2 of the accident report form that I 
stated I weighed 165 pounds.  Due to my surprise at being jerked 
off the ground so suddenly I lost my presence of mind and did 
not let go of the rope.  Needless to say, I proceeded at a 
rather rapid rate up the side of the building.  In the middle of 
the second floor I met the barrel coming down.  This explains 
the fractured skull and broken collar bone.
     
Slowed down only slightly by the barrel I continued my rapid 
ascent, not stopping until my right hand was two knuckles deep 
into the pulley.  Fortunately, I retained conciseness and was 
able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain and 
injuries.
     
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks 
hit the ground and the bottom of the barrel broke out.  Devoid 
of the weight of the bricks the barrel weighed approximately 50 
pounds.  I refer you again to my weight in box #2.  As you might 
imagine, I began a rather rapid descent down the side of the 
building.  In the middle of the second floor, I again met the 
barrel coming up.  This accounts for my two fractured ankles and 
lacerations of my legs and lower body.  This encounter with the 
barrel slowed me enough to lessen injuries when I fell onto the 
pile of bricks.  Fortunately only three vertebrate were cracked.
     
I'm sorry to report however as I lay there on the bricks, in 
pain, unable to stand or move, I lost my presence of mind and 
let go of the rope.  The empty barrel, weighing more than the 
rope, came back down and broke both of my legs.
     
I hope I furnished the information that you need to complete the 
processing of my claim and that you understand how the accident 
occurred by trying to do the job alone.

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