Suffering an injury at work is surely every person’s worst nightmare. You’re off work, stuck at home, with a painful injury. This could be a time to wallow in self-pity, and while a certain amount of wallowing is understandable, it’s important to take steps to ensure your route back into work goes as smoothly as possible.
The most important thing to do after suffering an injury at work is to investigate your claim. What was the nature of the accident? What caused it? Perhaps it was down to fatigue, or poor working conditions, or a lapse in health and safety procedures? It is vital to create a full account of what happened before, during, and after the accident. Thankfully, there are people who will help you with this.
If you’re based in New York, NY, there are several options available. One is Gary Weinberg Law, a respected injury attorney based in Brooklyn, NY. They are on hand to assess the severity of your injury by working alongside medical experts. In the case of income (or lack thereof), they will liaise with financial experts to create clarity around the costs for potential treatment, and other hardships, both long- and short-term. They will fight on your behalf, negotiating a fair settlement between insurance companies and your employer, securing you the compensation you deserve. Alternatively, you can search for personal injury attorney Phoenix if you live in Phoenix, or a similar term if you live elsewhere.
So, you’ve put in your claim and have solved the immediate worries regarding your injury. Now what? You’re still at home, and while your employer may have arranged for you to work from home, it can be difficult to feel particularly productive. Having a lack of structure to you day, when you’re used to having one, can be dispiriting. It is too easy to fall into a routine of late-morning getups, random mealtimes, and an overall drop in productivity.
Structure your day: construct a schedule which incorporates the time you dedicate to working, and factors in time for breaks and mealtimes. Essentially, try and follow the same schedule you would if you were at your workplace. For example, if you would usually have your morning coffee-break at 11 am, then do this at home too. This way, your road to recovery and your return to your place of employment will be far smoother. Depending on the nature of your injury, you may have been advised to undertake some rehabilitative exercises. It is important to factor these into your daily routine as well.
Whilst it is important to work as efficiently as you can while you’re at home, it is also important to remember that you’re in recovery. Try not to over-exert yourself; you will put yourself in unnecessary pain and may even ultimately make your injury worse. Ensure your dedicated working environment is such that you’re not uncomfortable, but not so comfortable that you fall out of your working mindset. For example, while your bed or sofa might be ideal in terms of comfort, they don’t necessarily inspire productivity. In fact, as tempting as it might be, it is important to avoid working in areas you would usually associate with relaxation. It may lead you to associate those areas with working instead, which could have a negative impact on your ability to “switch off” at the end of the day.
I hope that this article has provided you with some helpful advice about the steps to take following an injury at work. It may feel like a catastrophic event, but it doesn’t have to be. Seek advice where appropriate, rest up, and you’ll be back to work in no time.