As an employee at work, you might protect yourself but sadly accidents can strike at any time! If your injuries are minor, you can resume working almost immediately. On the flip side, if you experienced a severe injury and need time to recover, you might lose wages. It is bound to be a tough journey but you can get back to your better self. Here is a quick guide on how to cope, recover and return back to work after a severe injury.
Follow your doctor’s instructions
The most crucial piece of advice we can give you is to follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter after a serious injury. They know what will work best for your body and want to help you recover as fast as possible. It would be wise to listen to their advice to avoid making your injuries worse or taking yourself back to square zero when you have made good progress.
Go back to work only when you are ready!
Unfortunately, your worker’s compensation may not cater to all your pending bills. You might feel tempted to resume work to earn enough money to stay afloat. However, if you go back to work before you are ready, you risk re-injuring yourself or delaying your recovery. It would be wise to take a step back and let your body tell you when it is prepared to resume working again. We also recommend staying on the same page with your doctor about going back to work.
Practice self-care
A severe injury can cause you lots of stress and anxiety, making it more challenging to achieve a full recovery. On one hand, you are worried about your well-being and whether you will ever recover to your pre-injury state. On the other hand, you have medical bills and living expenses to cover, not to mention the lawyer fees. It would help to maintain a positive outlook and focus on your recovery.
Seek compensation for your injuries
If you got a serious injury while at work, you are entitled to a worker’s compensation. That said, some insurance companies might frustrate your efforts or even refuse to offer you maximum compensation for any workplace-related injuries.
It would help to hire an experienced personal injury attorney to fight for your rights. Look for a top attorney conversant with the laws in your state. For example, if you are in NYC, you can speak to a personal injury attorney, Michael S. Lamonsoff to help file a claim or fight back should a workers’ comp claim be rejected.
Keep in touch with your superiors
Even though you are exempt from work for a short while, it would be great to let your employer know how you are faring. Ensure you echo your doctor’s words and keep them in the loop of any medical restrictions, whether temporary or permanent. We also suggest letting them know when they should expect to see you at work.
Ask your employer for reasonable accommodations
A serious injury could have lingering effects on your mobility or overall health months after it occurs. As you return to work, it would help to ask your employers to give you certain work restrictions until you recover fully. These accommodations could help accelerate your recovery and prevent you from re-injuring yourself. For instance, you could ask to be exempted from heavy lifting, bending over, or requesting extra breaks.
Wrapping up
A serious injury could take a toll on your mental health and overall well-being. However, it would be best to prioritize your recovery over rushing back to work. Stick to a regimen prescribed by your doctor, plus seek help from professionals like therapists and an attorney to help fight for your rights.
