I Work a Desk Job: Should I Still Take Time Off After a New Hampshire Car Accident?

If you work a desk job, you might be thankful that you can still work despite your auto accident injuries. But just because you can work, this doesn’t necessarily mean you should. We always recommend that people follow their doctors’ recommendations regarding work. Talk with your doctor about your job duties entail, and ask if there is anything you need to avoid doing to make sure your injuries heal. While the decision on what work you can do is something you should be discussing with healthcare professionals, a car accident attorneys in New Hampshire can also help you understand what information you will need to document your restrictions and the time missed from work.

Only Your Doctors Can Determine How Much Time You Should Take Off

While online research can provide various answers, only a medical professional can help you understand your physical limitations and your individual recovery timeline. Speak with your doctor and ask them how much time you should take off work. You might also need to speak with various specialists for an accurate prognosis. For example, you might have suffered a brain injury in your car accident. In this situation, a neurologist may offer you more targeted medical advice, especially in terms of how much time you should take off or activities that should be avoided. That said, you should also advocate for yourself. If your doctor is recommending you try activities that cause you pain or worsen your symptoms, you should not be afraid to tell your providers the problems you are having.

If I Work an Office Job, Do I Get Less Time Off After a Car Accident?

Your return-to-work date depends on many factors, including the nature of your job. Many office jobs are not very physical, and you might assume that this “automatically” means less time off. However, this is not always the case.

Suppose you broke all of your fingers in your car accident. If you need your fingers to type at work, you might need to take months off work before returning to your keyboard. Perhaps your work requires a significant amount of mental focus, such as if you spend all day crunching numbers and analyzing spreadsheets. If this is the case, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) could make this mentally demanding work impossible.

In situations like these, you might need to take more time off than you realize. Office work isn’t necessarily “easy,” and there are many injuries that could make this type of career impossible. If you need help advocating for yourself, consider working with an experienced injury attorney. These legal professionals can help insurance companies understand why you needed time off work, and help you include your lost income as a part of your claim.

Can a Car Accident Lawyer in New Hampshire Help Me? 

If you have questions about returning to work or documenting your lost wages, contact Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC to learn more.

Sources:

 cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/data-research/facts-stats/tbi-in-the-workplace.html

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9508104/