No one is prepared for a car accident – they happen in an instant. And, unless you’ve been involved in a serious wreck, no one truly understands how disruptive it is…until it happens. Healing properly from the injuries sustained is the number one top priority. And, many times, the injuries are serious enough that time off work is necessary to recover. The question of when you can return to work depends on the specifics of your injury and situation. Every collision is different – every injury in different. There is no exact formulaic table of recovery time used to calculate when you’re healthy enough, and feel well enough, to return to work after being involved in a serious car accident.
However, many accident victims I’ve talked to feel pressure to get back to work as soon as possible for a variety of reasons, both personal and economic. Accidents are unexpected…THAT’S WHY THEY’RE CALLED ACCIDENTS. And, most people don’t save up sick or vacation days to take the necessary time off work needed to recover.
Plus, even if you want to get back to work right away, the potential exists that returning to work early may aggravate your injuries, delay the healing process, and needlessly suffer additional pain and complications due to the fact that you haven’t fully recovered.
The amount of time needed to recover depends on the severity of your injuries and the limitations caused by the accident. The most reliable source of information is your doctor. Most doctors will recommend a recovery time, and we advise that it’s best to ask your doctor when determining when it’s safe for you to return to work.
The pain and injury associated with being in a motor vehicle crash can be somewhat misleading. If you’ve ever been involved in an accident you know that it can take your body 24-72 hours before the adrenaline caused by the suddenness of the impact leaves your system. This is when accident victims really start feeling the full physical symptoms of any underlying injuries caused by a car accident. You may experience pain sooner, however, three days is a reasonable amount of time to determine if you have physical injuries that you cannot feel immediately after the accident.
If your injuries require hospitalization, employers are more apt to accommodate additional time off work. After seeking medical attention, and retaining an attorney, please be sure to notify your employer of the accident immediately. Your company’s human resource department will be able to relay the options available. Company rules differ from employer to employer so be sure to get all the details needed to properly understand your employer’s policy regarding time off for injuries.
It’s important to remember that lost wages is a component in a personal injury lawsuit. Call me at 317-636-7497 to discuss how you can recoup lost wages, as well as compensation for pain and suffering, in addition to medical bills after a car accident.