January 5, 2015
After being hurt on the job and pursuing a workers’ compensation claim, once you’ve recovered enough physically, it may be time to start thinking about going back to work. However, if you are receiving workers’ compensation benefits for your work injuries, then you need to be aware that the choices you make regarding when you return to work, as well as what you do when you go back to work, can impact your benefits.
In this three-part blog series, we will point out just some of the more important factors to keep in mind when you are thinking about going back to work after a work-related injury. If, however, you need more specific advice related to your situation – of if you need any help with your workers’ compensation claim, don’t hesitate to contact Denver Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Jennifer Bisset.
What to Think about When Going Back to Work after a Work-Related Injury
1 – Whether you are ready
Although it may sound simplistic or obvious, considering whether you are physically and psychologically ready to go back to work is critical before you actually reenter your workplace. The facts are
that:
- In a fast-paced, competitive employment market, it can be easy to feel the pressure to return to work before you may have recovered enough to do so.
- Going back to work too early can end up backfiring in a big way, as you could end up compounding your injuries, sustaining permanent impairments, missing more work, etc.
So, seriously consider whether you are truly prepared to start working on a part-time or minimal level. If you believe you are ready, be sure to talk to your doctor and a lawyer to find out more about:
- Whether your medical condition has improved enough to make returning to work safe for you
- Whether you may need to make certain plans for returning to work so that your benefits are not (or are only minimally) impacted.
2 – The doctor’s recommendations regarding your restricted activities
If you feel as though you are ready to return to work and your doctor okays this decision, then make sure that you are fully aware of the doctor’s recommendations regarding any restrictions for your activities. In fact, it can be helpful to be proactive in these situations and specifically ask if you should avoid doing certain types of activities during the course of performing your job.
If your doctor does end up restricting your job activities in any way, then abiding by these restrictions will be necessary to the continued payment of your workers’ compensation benefits. The reason for this is that, when you receive workers’ compensation benefits, insurers may:
- Closely monitor your activities to make sure you are abiding by doctor’s recommendations and restrictions
- Try to undercut or stop your benefits if you don’t follow doctor’s orders, as the insurer may try to argue that your non-compliance with doctor’s orders is evidence that you were not as badly injured as you have claimed, you’ve recovered from your injuries, etc.
So, don’t ignore your doctor or his orders, as this could end up impacting your benefits.
For our continued discussion regarding what you should consider before going back to work after sustaining an on-the-job injury, be sure to check out the upcoming second and third parts of this blog series!
Denver Workers’ Compensation Lawyer at the Bisset Law Firm
Have you been injured at work? If so, Denver Workers’ Compensation Attorney Jennifer Bisset wants you to know that she is here to aggressively advocate your rights and help you obtain the benefits you need and deserve.
To learn more about how Attorney Jennifer Bisset can help you, call us at (303) 894-8900 and schedule an initial consultation with her today.
From her office based in Denver, Jennifer Bisset provides superior legal services to injured people throughout Denver County and the state of Colorado.
