You may be anxious to get back to work after an on-the-job injury. However, returning too soon may be a bad idea for various reasons.
Learn the risks you face if you go back to work too soon, as discussed by the experienced Harrisburg workers’ compensation attorneys of Schmidt Kramer.
If you were injured at work or developed an occupational illness due to your employment, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Find out if you have a claim by scheduling a free, no-obligation consultation with our attorneys today.
Causing Further Injury
The most significant danger faced by workers who return to the job before they are ready after an injury is additional injuries. If you begin to perform your job duties before you are fully healed from your injury, you risk re-injuring yourself. Performing the same work which caused your injury initially can worsen that injury.
After an injury, you may do things differently in order to compensate. While you think you are protecting the injured area, you may just be placing strain on a different area of the body. This can result in a new injury to another body part.
Injured workers who return to work too soon are often at a greater risk of further injury due to medication side effects. Taking certain medications prescribed as a part of your treatment could make performing your job dangerous. Painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and other drugs may cause side effects such as drowsiness or impaired motor function. These side effects can impact your ability to work safely.
If you return to work too soon after being injured on the job, you also risk a loss of benefits. If you go back to work but later find you need to stop working due to health issues, your workers’ compensation claim may become complicated and you could lose benefits you otherwise would have been able to access.
When Do You Have to Go Back to Work?
Typically, if your doctor medically clears you to return to work, you must go back to work. However, if you do not feel you are ready to return, you may be able to appeal your doctor’s judgement. A second opinion from a specialist with a more detailed knowledge of your injury and treatment options may be necessary.
Your doctor may OK your return to work with restrictions. If your employer can accommodate your doctor’s restrictions, you typically need to go back to work.
Once you can return to your former duties, modified duties or alternative work, and are being paid at your regular rate of pay, workers’ compensation benefits will stop.
Reach Out to Our Harrisburg Attorneys for Assistance
If you were injured in a workplace accident or developed an occupational illness as a result of your employment, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits provide compensation for medical care and a portion of your lost wages while out of work during recovery.
At Schmidt Kramer, we help victims secure the compensation they need for their injuries. Request a free, no-obligation consultation today and learn if you may have a valid claim for workers’ compensation benefits. There are no upfront fees and payment is only due if we recover compensation for you.
Call us today at (717) 888-8888 or fill out our Free Case Evaluation form.