WorldWide Drilling Resource

50 NOVEMBER 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® True story: Once upon a time, there was a young man who was independent, honest, likeable, persistent, capable, and mechanically inclined. He did well in high school but, like many at that age, he was just looking to work. Now as it turned out, this young man befriended a successful and respected contractor. This contractor saw potential within the young man, and hired him as part of his big-picture vision. Who better to learn the trade? Who better to groom, instruct, and continue his business? And, so began the perfect storm. Considering the high cost of workers’ compensation (comp) insurance, special arrangements were made by the young man’s father, “Pay him extra, consider him as contract labor, and I’ll take care of his insurance and taxes.” With no one being the wiser, the young man flourished, the contractor turned a good profit, the future looked promising, and everyone was content. Then a bad day happened. That day, the young man on the contractor’s jobsite hit an overhead power line and THAT changed everything! No, the young man wasn’t killed, but now what? What about the enormous, mounting medical bills from the hospital burn unit, the surgeries, and skin grafts? What about the special arrangement? What about the friendships, families, and futures? What about the contractor’s company? What about…litigation? There was, of course, no workers’ comp policy for this young man. If there had been, this wouldn’t be much of a story, but this is a story and here’s why: workers’ comp (done right) would have unquestionably paid all the hospital bills and protected the con- tractor as well as his personal assets. Workers’ comp would have compensated for permanent disability and protected everyone in many ways, but there was no workers’ comp. None. So there was neither peace nor certainty for anyone. Worse yet, personal health insurance, homeowners, and general liability all specifically EXCLUDE work-related injuries and never pay for, or defend against punitive damages either. Now, only by the grace of God, this story has a happy and miraculous ending. Everyone pulled through fine, in all ways, and everyone remains close friends and colleagues to this day. I know, because 22 years ago, I was that young man in this story, and although I didn’t know it at the time, that horrible experience planted the seeds of success for the start of my real career, years later, in insurance. So, how did you get your start? Kyle Kyle Rehme may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com Kyle Rehme uses his personal knowledge of the water well, drilling, and environmental in- dustries to provide cus- tomers with practical insurance solutions. How Did You Get Your Start? by Kyle Rehme, VolkBell Property & Casualty Insurance, LLC , . *#! ' , , . &#," 1 0% "& 1 * ', &#," (%$ %% *() *,0 +- %,0 '+-* ' *#%% *+ 1 '- ,-* *+ 1 -))%# *+ 1 '!#' *+ 1 ('+-%, ',+ 1 , * %% 1 ,"( # 1 '.#*('& ', % 1 (," *& % 1 (' - ,(* (% *#%% *+ 1 #% # % *.# + 1 , * -&) *.# ) #* (',* ,(*+ /,(' * (*, (%%#'+