A car accident is a scary experience for many reasons, including financial insecurity while you are out of work. Most victims want to continue working, or get back to work as soon as possible following a car accident. But what if you’re in the middle of a lawsuit to recover your damages? Many victims worry about how it will look if they keep working while claiming that they have an injury. The worst thing would be to have your claim invalidated, thereby losing out on the compensation you desperately need.
Today, we will cover the topic of whether or not you should continue working if you are in the middle of a car accident lawsuit. There’s a good chance you will still have questions by the end of this article, so please give us a call and stop by for a free consultation. In the meantime, let’s start the question that’s clearly on your mind:
Can I Continue to Work if I am Involved in a Car Accident Case?
The short answer is yes, you can continue working or return to work at any point during a car accident lawsuit. Going to work does not invalidate your injury claim, nor is there a legally imposed timeline for returning to work after a car accident. But – and here’s the important part – continuing to work or returning to work too early can hurt your injury claim in a couple of ways.
- Your injuries may get worse, or you can sustain further injuries by continuing to work or going back to work too early. If the problems occurred after your car accident, you cannot request compensation for these injuries from the party that you’re suing.
- Depending on the type and amount of damages you asked for, continuing to work can hurt your credibility in a car accident lawsuit. Again, this does not invalidate your right to compensation, but it could affect the amount you’re able to collect.
How these factors affect your lawsuit depends on the extent of your injuries, which is why you should speak with an attorney about the activities you can engage in while your lawsuit is pending. Our experienced car accident lawyers can advise you in this area along with any other questions you have about your lawsuit.
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How Can Returning to Work Affect my Health?
It’s up to you and your doctor to decide if you should keep working, or when you should return to work. Your doctor will consider many factors before giving you the go-ahead to resume your work duties. The biggest factor is your injuries, which may include:
- Physical injuries
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder)
The extent of your injuries will determine the amount of time needed for your recovery, and how soon you can start working again. Even sedentary jobs like office work can exacerbate back pain and headaches, thereby worsening your injuries from the car accident. It’s also worth noting the effects of prescription medications, which you may be using to manage your physical and emotional pain. These meds can impair your ability to do the following tasks:
- Drive to and from work
- Lift heavy objects
- Operate tools and machinery
With the above situation, you may be endangering the lives of pedestrians and other coworkers, as well as yourself. Thus, it’s important to follow your doctor’s advice regarding the amount of time you should take off from work.
When Should I Start Working Again?
This again, is where you will need to rely on your doctor’s recommendations. As a general rule, a doctor will not clear you for work if there’s a possibility that doing so will prevent or slow down the recovery process. But we’ve also seen plenty of cases where doctors have cleared a patient with certain restrictions, like taking regular breaks or avoiding specific tasks.
On the other hand, we’ve had clients say to us, “I don’t think I can return to work. Do I have to follow my doctor’s orders?” If you are in this situation, make sure to get a second opinion form another doctor right away. That doctor may agree with you, or impose further restrictions on the things you can do at work. Be sure to get a note from the doctor and forward it to your employer so that your rights are protected.
Talking to a personal injury lawyer is another way to protect your employment rights during a car accident lawsuit. If you’re afraid of being fired or feel that your employer is not respecting your doctor’s advice, there may be actions we can take on your behalf. Contact Normandie Law Firm and speak to one of our attorneys as soon as you can.
Can I Exercise if I have an Open Injury Lawsuit?
This is an excellent question, since exercise is an integral part of many people’s lives. In some cases, exercise can aid in your recovery by improving your physical and mental health. But this is another area where you should consult your doctor ahead of time. The biggest concern is worsening your injury, which the at-fault driver is not responsible for. And certainly, being able to exercise can affect the amount of compensation you’re eligible for, depending on the severity of your injuries.
You should also limit other activities that can be used against you by the liable party’s insurers. These activities vary from person to person, so we can’t verify what you should avoid without meeting you in person. To learn more about protecting your rights after a car accident, please schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers.
Help from the Attorneys of Normandie Law Firm
Frankly, the claim process after a car accident is almost, if not more stressful than the accident itself. Much of this has to do with the complicated laws governing car accident injury lawsuits, which can be overwhelming for the average person. The best way to recover the damages you’re entitled to is to work with an experienced attorney.
We know how concerned you are about your finances, especially if you can’t return to work right away. We want to assure you that you will never pay upfront for any of our services, as a promise under our Zero fee guarantee. The only way we get paid is if you get paid, so you have nothing to lose by calling us and scheduling a free consultation.
Our Zero fee guarantee applies to second opinions as well. If you’re unhappy with your current law firm, please come and see us for a free evaluation of your case. We can answer all your questions regarding the way your case is being handled and advise you on the pros and cons of switching to another lawyer.
Contact the attorneys of Normandie and fight for the compensation you deserve.
