The physical and cognitive toll of a personal injury could limit you in the workplace. In some cases, an injured victim cannot work during his or her recovery. Injury victims may not be able to get back to the jobs they held before the accident. He or she may need to change careers or stop working altogether.

Below, we discuss some of the many ways a personal injury could impair your ability to do your job. If your injuries affect your ability to do your job, our attorneys may be able to help. We may be able to help you recover compensation for lost damages and loss of earning capacity.

TSR Injury Law’s experienced Bloomington personal injury attorneys help injured victims obtain compensation for damages, which often include lost wages. We also know how to determine a victim’s lost earning capacity if he or she cannot continue working in the same capacity as before the accident.

Injured by Negligence? Call TSR today: (612) TSR-TIME.

Injuries That Could Cause Limitations at Work

There are so many injuries that could affect your ability to work, even if it is only for a short period of time. For example, a severe or complex fracture could limit you at work for several weeks or longer. You will probably need to keep the area immobilized, which could make it challenging or impossible to work for a certain time. Your doctor may tell you not to work for a certain period and place a limit of the number of hours you can work.

It is important to note some people may be able to work more than others, depending on the type of job they have. If you work in an office in front of a computer and you have a broken leg, you may still be able to work a significant amount. However, if you work in construction or in a job that requires you to do a lot of heavy lifting, you may not be able to work at all until your injuries heal.

Other types of injuries that could affect your ability to work include:

Physical Limitations That Could Result From an Injury

Some injuries prevent you from performing some or all the tasks involved in your job. For example, you may not be able to operate machinery at a construction site or in a factory. Some tasks require two hands, and one hand may be immobilized as part of your recovery.

There are some jobs that require a lot of physical activity. For example, plumbers, electricians and air conditioning maintenance workers may be limited or unable to do their jobs while recovering from an injury.

If a victim works as a bartender or server, he or she may be unable to stay on his or her feet as much as the job requires. Lifting trays with drinks or food may be difficult, too. Your doctor may place a limit on how many pounds you may lift during your recovery. Sometimes employers can find ways to accommodate an injury. This may allow an injured victim to continue working. For example, if your vision is affected by an injury and you work at a computer, there may be some accommodations.

It is not a good idea to struggle through a job if you are in pain or your injuries are limiting you. When one body part is injured and you try to keep doing the same things you did before the injury occurred, you may end up compensating. That means you may put unusual strain on other body parts. This can result in further injury and make your recovery take longer.

That is why it is important to follow the doctor’s orders about working. You do not want to lengthen your recovery, and if you aggravate your injuries, the insurance company may try to deny compensation. They may claim you are making your injuries worse to try to inflate the value of your claim.

Mental/Cognitive Limitations That May Result from a Personal Injury

A traumatic brain injury could make it much more difficult to do your job, particularly if your job involves things like:

Sometimes brain injuries cause headaches that make it hard to concentrate for extended periods. Even if you can go back to work and your doctor allows it, you may only be effective at your job for a few hours. You may need to limit your hours during your recovery.

Sometimes accommodations can be made for a brain injury, such as working from home if you do a lot of work on a computer. The lights at the office and all the activity could be disturbing after a brain injury – some people suffer sensitivity to light and sound after a concussion or other type of brain injury.

There can be psychological limitations associated with personal injuries, too. You may struggle to get a good night’s sleep, which can increase irritability and anxiety. Some people experience depression that makes it harder to work. Depression and other mental health issues could make it much harder to concentrate at work.

What if You Suffer Lost Earning Capacity?

The insurance company may try to downplay the long-term effects of your injuries. That is why you need experienced legal assistance.

At TSR, we are committed to securing all compensation for your damages, including the cost of ongoing damages like lost earning capacity. The value of lost earning capacity is based on many factors that our attorneys know how to evaluate, such as your education, age, job skills, history of promotions and the expected earnings in the field in which you were working before your injury.

Contact TSR Injury Law Today to Discuss Your Claim

For more than two decades, TSR Injury Law has been assisting injured victims in the pursuit of compensation. We have secured over $1 billion on behalf of our clients.

We represent the injured on contingency. There are no upfront fees and we do not collect our fees unless you receive compensation through a settlement or courtroom verdict.

Free consultation. Give us a call today: (612) TSR-TIME.