A severe workplace accident could leave you unable to work ever again. However, you might be able to return to work after some time off to recover. Yet, due to your injury, you might not be able to carry out your duties as easily as before. Your employer should make accommodations for your needs.
Workplace injuries can affect your ability to work in several ways
Here are some of the difficulties you could face returning to work and accommodations that an employer could make:
- Mobility: If you injured a leg in an accident, you might find it harder to climb the stairs to the second-floor office you previously worked in. Perhaps you could move your desk to the first floor.
- Strength: It can take time to regain full strength after an accident. You may not be able to work as fast as you used to or carry as much as before.
- Stamina: You may need more frequent breaks than other workers. You might even need to reduce your hours or start back part-time at first.
- Emotional needs: Workplace accidents can be traumatic. You might get flashbacks, which leave you unable to return to the same machinery task. You might be able to perform a different role that does not involve a whirring saw blade.
If injured in a workplace accident, you should claim on your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. It is best to seek legal help when filing your claim to ensure that you receive the full amount of compensation you are entitled to.
Remember that workers’ compensation covers more than time off work and medical expenses. It should also pay for any therapy you need to recover from your injuries and return to work. If you cannot go back to the same job, you may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation to change your line of work.