Can Returning to Work Too Soon Hurt Your Personal Injury Claim?

You were involved in an accident and you got injured. Your injury was so bad that you had to take time off of work.

Now the bills are piling up and you’re worried you won’t be able to pay them. At the same time, you aren’t sure if it’s a good idea to go back to work yet—not only for the sake of your health, but for your accident injury claim as well.

Before you decide to return to work, you’ll need to consider how it could affect your healing process as well as your claim.

Returning to Work After an Injury

You should only go back to work after your doctor gives you clearance. If you go against their advice and you return to work, a number of consequences could occur.

First and foremost, you may aggravate your injury and make it worse. Even if it seems like you’re fully healed, it could come back once you get to work.

For example, if you injured your arm in an accident and you start using it all day long once again, you could start to feel pain and need to go back to the doctor. You don’t want to prolong your healing process. The best way to expedite it is to stay at home until the doctor says you can go back to work.

Additionally, if you go back to work too soon, it could hurt your lawsuit. The defendant in your lawsuit (usually the insurance company) could claim that your injury isn’t as bad as it seems because you were able to get back to work. You wouldn’t be able to get as much compensation as you would if you had stayed at home.

What to Do When You Go Back to Work

Once your doctor allows you to go back to work, try to modify your activities at work as much as possible so you don’t aggravate your injuries. You could always ask your doctor for a note if your work gives you a hard time about not being able to fulfill all your responsibilities. Also, you should keep going to appointments before or after work if your doctor tells you that you still need treatment.

How Will I Pay My Bills if I’m Not Working?

You’re worried about not being able to cover your bills because you’re not working, which is completely understandable. If you’re working with an attorney, you can ask them about all of your available options for paying your bills during this time.

For example, instead of paying your medical bills out of pocket or using your own health insurance, you may be able to go through your lawyer’s network of medical providers and pay for your treatment on a lien. Then, once you get your settlement, they will pay the medical providers what they are owed.

Additionally, keep in mind that your lawyer will also file a claim for lost wages if you had to take off time from work for treatment. You could put this money towards your bills once it comes in.

Finding a Lawyer to Help

When you get injured, it not only affects your work, but your personal life as well. You want to get back to normal as soon as possible and return to work. Hiring a personal injury lawyer who will stand by your side throughout this process is always a good idea.

Most personal injury lawyers won’t charge you a retainer; instead, you will pay the lawyer out of the damages they recover for you, which would include the cost of your medical bills, your lost wages and the pain and suffering you experienced if it’s applicable to your case.

Here are some other things to keep in mind. As soon as you are injured, it is important to collect evidence like photos, witness statements and notes about what happened, and then go to the doctor for treatment. The longer you wait to get treated, the weaker your case will be.

At any point, if an insurance company calls you to work out a settlement, don’t accept it without first speaking to an attorney. There is a good chance that whatever they offer you will not be enough to cover your bills.

By staying at home as long as you need to and working with a skilled and knowledgeable attorney, you will be able to cover your bills and hopefully go back to work as soon as possible.

Contact Nowell Law Firm, LLC in Spartanburg, SC

If you’ve been involved in an accident in South Carolina and you are looking for a lawyer who can help get you the compensation you deserve, the Nowell Law firm is ready to go to work for you. Contact our office today for a free consultation and case assessment.