Working after a Workers’ Comp Injury
Individuals who suffer injuries while they are on the job often need extensive medical treatment. The medical treatment that an accident victim receives, as well as the recovery time, will depend upon the severity of their injuries.
After suffering an on-the-job injury, continuing working – or returning to your job properly and safely – can assist with your overall recovery. Moreover, if you work continuously after your accident, it can lessen the financial consequences that you might otherwise experience from missing work and losing out on wages.
Staying at Work Versus Returning to Work after Suffering Injuries in an Accident
Some individuals who suffer work injuries may decide to remain at their job. At other times, you may need to take some time off to fully recover from your injuries and get some rest. When you are deciding whether to work or stay at home, you should consult with several individuals, including your primary treating doctor, the claims administrator for your employer’s insurance company, your work supervisor, and your workers’ compensation attorney.
When determining if you should work or not work during your recovery period, you should speak with all of these individuals about your current medical condition, the work that you performed prior to your injury, and whether or not your employer has light duty options you could perform while recovering.
What Happens During the Injury Recovery Period?
As soon as possible after your work accident, a doctor will perform a complete physical examination on you and send the report to your employer’s insurance company. This report will detail your medical condition and whether or not you are safe to return to work.
If the doctor indicates that you are able to work, the report should set forth very specific limits, if you have any, while you are recovering from your injuries. These limitations, sometimes called work restrictions, are supposed to prevent you from suffering further injury or medical complications. For example, a provider might limit the amount of weight that you can lift at work – or the amount of time that you can work while you recover from your injuries.
Moreover, the doctor’s report may detail whether or not you must make changes in your equipment, assignments, schedule, and other working conditions during your recovery period. For example, your employer may need to provide you with a headset if you have trouble moving your head and neck due to your on-the-job injury.
Sometimes, a doctor may report that your injuries prevent you from working in any capacity during your recovery period. If the doctor makes that recommendation, you should not work at all. If you disagree with the doctor’s assessment, you do have the option of challenging it under certain circumstances.
Call an Experienced Work Injury Lawyer in Your Area Today
If you suffered an on-the-job injury, retaining experienced legal counsel in your case is one of the most important steps you can take. You should consult with your San Jose worker’s comp lawyer about returning to work after your accident. In conjunction with medical professionals and others, you and your lawyer can make an informed decision.
