Can Going Back to Work Too Soon After a Crash Hurt My Charleston Injury Claim?

The pressure to return to work after a car crash is overwhelming, especially when you have significant injuries. Medical bills can pile up while your income disappears, creating a financial burden for you and your family.

If you are worried about returning to work and not sure how to seek compensation, a trusted licensed attorney can help you determine your legal options. Find out if you have a valid claim by speaking to a lawyer about the details of your incident.

At Roden Law, our Charleston car accident lawyers are here to help you throughout the legal process. If you have a valid case, our firm can negotiate with the insurance company and gather evidence that links your injuries to the accident.

Request a free consultation with our attorneys: 1-844-RESULTS

How Soon Is Too Soon To Return to Work After a Car Accident in Charleston?

There is no set time to return to work after a car accident. The appropriate time depends on your specific injuries, job requirements, and your doctor’s recommendations.

You need to take into consideration the following to identify when the right time is to return to work.

Follow Your Doctor’s Recommendations

Your doctor’s professional recommendations are based on their knowledge, your specific injuries, and recovery progress. When you ignore this medical recommendation, you risk your health and weaken your injury claim.

Consider Your Physical Demands

The type of occupation you have can significantly impact the decision to return to work. For example, office workers with stationary duties may most likely go to work sooner than construction workers, hospitality staff, or healthcare providers whose jobs require physical exertion.

Who Decides When I Am Ready to Return to Work After a Car Crash?

Several key parties influence the decision about when you are ready to return to work after an accident. Each individual or party plays a distinct role in this decision:

Your Medical Providers

Your treating physicians hold the primary responsibility in determining when you are medically cleared to go back to work activities. These healthcare professionals base their decisions on:

• Objective medical findings from exams, imaging, and tests
• Your reported pain levels and functional limitations
• Progress in physical therapy or other treatments
• Specific physical requirements of your job duties

Your Employer

While your doctor determines medical clearance, your employer makes decisions about accommodating any restrictions or limitations. Some workplaces may offer flexible arrangements like:

• Modified or light-duty assignments
• Reduced hours or altered schedules
• Temporary reassignment to less physically demanding roles
• Work-from-home options during recovery

South Carolina employers are not legally required to hold your position, but many have return-to-work policies designed to help injured employees’ transition back safely. Review your company’s policies to plan your return to work.

Your Insurance Provider

Those who have short-term disability coverage may have insurance providers influence their return-to-work timing by determining benefit eligibility periods. These insurers typically:

• Require regular medical documentation of continued disability
• May conduct independent medical examinations
• Often have case managers who coordinate with your doctors
• Set specific benefit duration limits based on your policy

Workers’ compensation insurers play a particularly active role if your accident occurred during work hours, potentially requiring their own medical evaluations before approving your return.

Your Final Decision

Although various parties provide guidance and requirements, ultimately you make the final decision about returning to work. Your personal assessment of how ready you are to return to work matters, especially when:

• You experience symptoms or limitations your doctor may not fully recognized
• Your workplace presents unique challenges not addressed in generic restrictions
• Financial pressures create urgency not reflected in medical recommendations

What Happens If I Can Not Afford to Miss Work After My Car Crash?

If you cannot afford to miss work after a car crash, you have other options that you can explore. You can look at your insurance coverage. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) may cover up to 80 percent of lost wages if you have no-fault coverage. Also, at-fault driver’s insurance can compensate for lost wages through a personal injury claim.

You can discuss with your employers about remote work possibilities or modified duties. Most employers offer paid time off or sick leave which can be used during your recovery time.

Depending on the medical conditions, some individuals may use the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protection. Those who are eligible can have up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job protected leave per year for certain family and medical reasons. While you are on unpaid leave, employees are guaranteed their job or an equivalent position when they return.

How Do My Doctor’s Work Restrictions Impact My Charleston Car Accident Claim?

When you are injured in a car accident, your doctor’s work restriction can significantly have an impact on your compensation claim.

• Medical Evidence Value: Doctor testimony serves as crucial evidence in your case, establishing causation between the accident and your injuries.
• Lost Wages: Work restrictions directly affect wage compensation, especially if you cannot return to your profession or earn at the same level.
• Future Expenses: Your claim should include medical expenses if you need long-term care due to permanent impairments.
• Permanent Restrictions: Work restrictions provide powerful evidence of disability. For example, a “no lifting over 15 pounds” restriction might significantly impact construction workers.
• Maximum Medical Improvement: Your doctor determines when you have reached maximum medical improvement, establishing whether you will have permanent restrictions affecting your claim value.

What If My Employer Pressures Me to Return to Work After My Accident?

Pressure to return to work after a car accident can create significant stress during an already difficult recovery period. You will need to handle this circumstance by considering your employer pressure, protecting your health, and legal rights.

Even if your employer or insurance company pressures you to return to work, only a medical professional is qualified to determine when you can safely return. Your doctor will base this decision on your specific injuries and recovery progress.

Under no circumstances should you feel required to return to work before receiving your doctor’s clearance. Your doctor might choose to wait until you make a complete recovery or might release you with certain restrictions.

How Insurance Adjusters Monitor Your Return to Work After an Accident

Insurance adjusters evaluate claims to determine liability. However, their primary goal is to minimize payouts by investigating incidents and gathering evidence that could reduce compensation.

Some of the surveillance methods that insurance adjusters may use to observe victims are:

• Physical Monitoring: Insurance companies may hire private investigators to follow claimants in public or observe them outside their homes to verify claims.
• Social Media Tracking: Adjusters routinely monitor social media profiles for photos, videos, or posts suggesting you are more active than your claim indicates.
• Workplace Observation: Adjusters may increase monitoring if they notice inconsistencies between your reported injuries and observed activities, especially when you return to work.

Can Working Through Pain Reduce My Charleston Car Accident Settlement?

You can potentially reduce your settlement amount if you decide to work through pain. Insurance companies look at the severity and impact of your injuries when deciding on the amount of compensation. If you continue to work despite your pain, the insurance company could perceive that your injuries are not as severe, which could lead to a lower settlement.

If you ignore your doctor’s advice and later try to claim damages for related issues, your payout may be reduced, especially if most people would have followed that advice.

What If My Employer Offers Me Light Duties or a Shorter Work Day?

If your employer offers you light duty work, understand what it means. Ask your employer what type of modified or alternative roles will be adjusted. You should know if it is less physically demanding and need to consider your current health limitations while you recover from an injury.

Here are some other things you want to take before accepting light duty or shorter work days.

• Consult your doctor and provide your employer with your doctor’s note outlining your condition and recommended recovery plan.
• Employers are not required to offer light duty. If they do not, they typically pay temporary disability benefits through workers’ compensation
• Your employer cannot penalize you for using workers’ compensation benefits and must allow you to return to your original job once you have fully recovered.
• Gradually start with part-time hours or specific days to ease back into responsibilities while reducing the risk of reinjury.

How Roden Law Protects Charleston Clients Who Need to Return to Work

Prematurely returning to work after a car accident can significantly impact your injury claim. You do not have to work through your crash pain, receive the medical attention that you need and seek legal representation to pursue a fair compensation.

At Roden Law, we understand the complex matters that victims face while managing their recovery, employment obligations, and pursuit of fair compensation. Our knowledgeable attorneys can provide the guidance needed to navigate these difficult decisions, ensuring that your health and legal rights are protected throughout the claims process.

Call today to speak with one of our attorneys. No upfront cost. 1-844-RESULTS