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Email UsAfter you were injured at work, your doctor may have prescribed you some time off to rest and heal. At first, this may have been a welcome respite for you both physically and mentally. As time passes, though, you may be itching to get back to work.
The idea of any workers’ compensation case is to get you back to work as quickly as possible so your life can get back to normal. But returning to work too early, before your doctor says it’s OK to do so, can be extremely damaging to your workers’ compensation case.
Here are some of the top reasons why.
You Could Re-Injure Yourself
If your doctor has not cleared you to return to work, it’s because he or she doesn’t feel that you are healthy enough to do so. Your health is the most important factor in a workers’ compensation case. If you return to work before your doctor says it’s OK, you run the risk of re-injuring yourself or injuring yourself even worse because you aren’t fully healed.
You Don’t Have to Return Until You’re Cleared
If you have been out for an extended period of time after you’ve been injured on the job, your employer may ty to pressure you into returning to work. After all, with you gone, there is most likely a hole in production that your employer is scrambling to fill.
Keep in mind, though, that if you were injured on the job and a doctor is writing you out of work, you are in no way required to return to work. Workers’ compensation laws are there to protect your job security. If your employer is pressuring you to return to work, don’t oblige. Instead, keep your attorney informed of the situation.
You Could Ruin Your Workers’ Compensation Case
Companies often try to deny workers’ compensation cases even when the claim is legitimate. If you return to work before your doctor clears you, though, you will be giving the company more fuel for its defense. Your employer and insurance company could try to claim that if you returned to work willingly, that you weren’t badly injured in the first place and, therefore, shouldn’t be entitled to any workers’ compensation money.
While your health is certainly more important than money, you do need to keep in mind your workers’ compensation case when making the decision on when to return to work. After all, you’ve incurred significant medical expenses and lost wages, most likely, since you were injured on the job.
Hire a Knowledgeable Attorney to Guide You Through Your Workers’ Compensation Case
Having a knowledgeable, experienced and respected attorney is key to helping you through every aspect of your workers’ compensation claim. Call the Rosner Law Office, P.C. for a free consultation at (856) 502-1655.