If you have been involved in a serious car accident, you may have been out of work for a while. Even though you may have taken sick days and vacation days to avoid a financial hit, you may eventually need to go back to work if you want to resume your career and support your family.
At the same time, you need to take care of yourself as you go back to work. What do you need to do if you are returning to work after a car accident? Take a look at a few key tips below, and don’t forget to reach out to a professional who can assist you.
Take the Necessary Precautions
First, you need to make sure that you take the necessary precautions when you return to work. If you do not take the right precautions, you run the risk of hurting yourself, which can create a major setback in the recovery process. For example, if you have suffered a serious back injury in a motor vehicle accident, you may need to use a special chair that provides you with extra support. Or, if you have suffered a wrist injury, you may need to wear a brace on your wrist if you go back to typing.
If you are unsure of what precautions you need to take, you may want to reach out to a treatment professional who can assist you. That way, you can make sure you put yourself in the best position possible to be safe when you return to the office.
Don’t Go Back To Work Too Soon
Speaking of returning to the office, make sure you don’t go back to work too soon. Even though you might be in a hurry to return to work, you run the risk of hurting yourself. If your doctor recommends that you need to take a few extra days to recover, then you need to do so. You should also communicate with your employer to keep him or her apprised of when you will return to the office.
If you need to go back to work more quickly, you may want to consider reaching out to your employer to see if you can work remotely. That way, you will be able to resume your work duties from the comfort of your home. This might not be possible in every situation, but it might be something for you to consider.
Know What To Do if You Get Hurt Again
Even if you take all of the necessary precautions, accidents happen. There is a chance that you could get hurt at work. If that happens, you need to let your employer know as quickly as possible. Then, you need to schedule an appointment with your treatment professional. That way, you can figure out what happened, why it happened, and how you will address it.
Furthermore, if you believe that you will be unable to fulfill the responsibilities of your original job, you may want to talk to your employer about a different job you can do until your injury has healed. Of course, you need to talk with your doctor to make sure you are able to complete the new job that your employer gives you.
Attend All Follow-Up Appointments
Because you have probably taken a lot of time off of work, you may not want to take additional time off of work to go back to the doctor. On the other hand, you must make sure that you attend all of your follow-up appointments. Even though you may have gone to the emergency room after your accident, you need to go back to the doctor for all of your follow-up appointments to make sure you understand your treatment plan, are on track with your recovery, and that you do not need to make any changes to your treatment plan.
You also need to make sure you follow the instructions provided by your doctor to put yourself in the best position possible to recover. If there are new symptoms that develop, you need to talk with your doctor about them. That way, they can be addressed appropriately.
Get a Note From Your Doctor
You should also get a note from your doctor specifying what you can and cannot do. Just because you tell your employer about your injury does not necessarily mean your employer is going to believe you. Even though some employers are more flexible than others, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Therefore, make sure you talk to your doctor and get a note from him or her. Furthermore, this type of documentation can protect you in the event that your employer tries to ask you to do something that you cannot do.
Document Everything That Happens
Speaking of documentation, you need to document everything that happened with your accident. Immediately after the motor vehicle accident, write down your symptoms, what you think, and what you feel. Make sure you share this information with your doctor because it could make it easier for your doctor to arrive at the right diagnosis.
Then, when you return to the office, make sure you document everything your employer asks you to do as well. Even though most employers are going to be flexible with someone who is recovering from an injury after a serious car accident, this type of documentation is still important because it can be used to protect yourself in the event of a dispute.
Start Low and Go Slow
When you return to the office, you will probably try to resume your duties exactly as they were before. Even though this might be the ultimate goal, remember to start low and go slow. What this means is that you should not try to push yourself to do too much too fast. Otherwise, you could end up hurting yourself. During your first day back at the office, you might not be able to stay for the entire workday. If that is the case, be understanding with yourself, and let your employer know how you are feeling. It will take some time for you to get back in the flow of things.
Work With Doctor Wagner After a Car Accident in Florida
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident in Florida, you need to reach out to a chiropractor who can help you. At Doctor Wagner, we take great pride in helping people recover following a motor vehicle accident, and our goal is to help you recover while minimizing complications and side effects. Contact us today to make an appointment with our team.