Injuries can affect your ability to do many different types of work. Even sitting in an office in front of a computer can be a challenge while you are recovering from an injury. Sitting in an office chair could make your back injury worse. Looking at a computer screen could cause headaches.
That is why doctors often tell injured victims to work less or to stop working for a certain period. Pushing yourself too hard can make your injuries worse and prolong your recovery.
Continuing to work as much as before your injury could also affect your claim for compensation. The insurance company may claim you are not injured because you are able to work. They may say you are not mitigating your damages because you are working more than you should.
Below, we discuss the many ways an injury could affect your ability to work. Even minor aches and pains can become worse when you try to complete various tasks at your job. That is why victims need to follow the doctor’s orders and seek out an experienced attorney to help recover lost wages and compensation for any loss of earning capacity.
At Galloway Jefcoat, our Lafayette-based personal injury lawyers are committed to securing full compensation for damages. We understand how difficult the aftermath of an injury can be.
Physical and Cognitive Effects of a Personal Injury
Catastrophic injuries often prevent people from working ever again. For example, a spinal cord injury that causes significant paralysis can make it impossible to do almost any job. The same could be said of severe burns or some traumatic brain injuries.
Catastrophic injuries like these can severely limit mobility and fine motor skills.
A brain injury can affect your cognitive abilities. These cognitive issues can make it difficult to:
- Solve problems
- Remember important information
- Have conversations with coworkers
- Do the other mental work your job requires
While someone who suffered an amputation may eventually be able to work, there may be a period when he or she cannot work. He or she may need time to learn how to do things differently than before. However, if the victim’s previous job involved a lot of heavy lifting, he or she may need to work in an entirely different job. The same could be said for an amputation victim who works in a factory or construction.
There are many other injuries that are not catastrophic but can limit you at work. For example, a knee injury or another type of soft-tissue injury to one of your legs can make it much harder to sit down at a desk for several hours a day. If your job requires a lot of walking around, you may need to work fewer hours per day. You may think you can get around on crutches, but this can be exhausting.
Something as simple as a broken arm can make it tougher to do all the tasks a job requires. Even if you can go to work, tasks may take longer to complete. You may need to adjust how you do a task to avoid aggravating a back or neck injury. This extra time can result in you becoming worn out much quicker than before.
Another factor victims may not consider is that they may need to compensate for not being able to use an arm or leg like they normally would. This means you are using other muscles to help you, and this can be exhausting because you are not used to doing things this way.
Physical injuries can also have a cognitive toll. Pain, discomfort and limited mobility can be mentally taxing. It may become harder to concentrate on your work and think through problems your job requires you to solve.
Ongoing pain from an injury can affect sleep, causing you to be fatigued throughout the day. Dealing with fatigue at home is one thing, but it can be particularly difficult when you are trying to work.
It is important to keep your doctor informed about difficulties performing your job, including getting worn out because of your injury. Victims need to listen to their doctors about limitations at work. If you try to push through pain or discomfort, you could make an injury worse and give the insurance company reason to devalue your claim.
Doctors may put you on prescription medication to help manage your symptoms. While these medications may work, they could make it harder to do your job. You may struggle with drowsiness or fatigue. You may have trouble lifting things or operating heavy machinery.
If you think you are unable to go back to work but your doctor has cleared you to return, you may need to seek a second opinion.
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Why Victims May Return to Work Too Soon
Many injured victims are anxious to return to work. Many people are living paycheck to paycheck, and they cannot afford to lose even a little bit of money from one of their checks.
While injured victims may file injury claims, compensation from these claims is not going to come for weeks or months. Victims are going to need to figure out how to get by with less income until their claim concludes.
Anxiety about financial issues can cause people to return to work too soon. Even though their doctor may have told them to limit the number of hours they work, they may want to push through. One of the reasons some victims may think they can push through is that they do not think their injuries are all that bad. They may think they can push through any pain or discomfort they feel.
However, victims may not consider that it is easier to manage symptoms when they are not working. If you stay at home and take it easy, you might get the impression that whiplash is not that bad. However, a few hours back at your job could cause the pain to get much worse.
If you were injured because of another’s negligence, you need an experienced lawyer committed to pursuing maximum compensation. At Galloway Jefcoat, we understand the stress and financial difficulties victims face. Our goal is to get you maximum compensation as quickly as possible.
Contact Galloway Jefcoat Today to Discuss Your Claim
You cannot count on the insurance company to take care of you after an accident. In fact, they are looking for any reason to deny your claim or at least pay you a small amount of compensation to make you go away.
Galloway Jefcoat has a history of proven results, having secured hundreds of millions. For more than 25 years we have been fighting for the injured in Louisiana, at no upfront cost.
"Galloway Jefcoat helped me at a time when I felt lost and taken advantage of by my employer."