How Much Time Can I Take Off Work for My Injuries?

After a car accident, your body is in crisis. You’re in pain, you’re exhausted, and the idea of sitting at a desk or performing physical labor seems impossible. Your doctor has advised you to rest and recover. But as the days turn into a week or more, a pressing anxiety begins to build: How much time can you actually afford to take off work? Will the insurance company cover it? What if your boss gets impatient?

It’s a difficult balancing act between your physical need for recovery and your financial need for a paycheck. Many people, fearing a loss of income, make the dangerous mistake of returning to work too soon, which can re-injure them and prolong their healing process.

The most important thing to understand is that the answer to “How much time can I take off?” is not determined by you or your employer. It is a medical question that must be answered by your doctor. The amount of time off work that is considered legitimate for your insurance claim is the amount that is deemed medically necessary by a qualified physician.

Useful Information for You: In a Nutshell

• Your Doctor Decides: The amount of time you can take off work is determined by your doctor’s medical opinion. You must get a formal, written note from your doctor excusing you from work.
• It’s a “Medically Necessary” Standard: Insurance will only compensate you for lost wages if a doctor has certified that you are unable to perform your job duties as a direct result of your accident-related injuries.
• Documentation is Essential: To make a successful lost wages claim, you must have a doctor’s off-work slip and a letter from your employer verifying your rate of pay and the dates you missed.
• “Light-Duty” is an Option: Your doctor might release you to return to work with specific restrictions (e.g., “no lifting over 10 pounds”). If your employer cannot accommodate these, you may still be able to claim lost wages.
• PIP Can Provide Initial Relief: Your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance can pay for a portion of your lost wages while your claim is ongoing.

The Deciding Factor: Your Doctor’s Written Orders

Your personal feeling of being unable to work is valid, but it is not enough to secure a lost wages claim. You need official documentation from your treating physician.

The “Off-Work Slip”: Your Most Important Document

After evaluating your injuries, your doctor will determine if you are medically able to perform your job.

• If you cannot work at all, your doctor will provide you with a written note, often called an “off-work slip” or disability slip. This note should clearly state that you are to remain off work and specify a date range (e.g., “John Doe is medically unable to work from August 2nd to August 16th due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.”).
• If you can work with limitations, the note will specify your “light-duty” or “modified-duty” restrictions. Examples include:
  • No lifting more than 15 pounds.
  • Limit standing to one hour at a time.
  • May only work a half-day (4 hours).

It is crucial that you follow your doctor’s orders exactly. If they say to stay off work for two weeks, you stay off for two weeks.

What if My Employer Can’t Accommodate Light-Duty Restrictions?

This is a common situation. Your doctor might say you can return to your construction job with a “no lifting over 10 pounds” restriction, but your job requires you to lift 50 pounds all day. If your employer cannot provide you with work that fits within your medical restrictions, then you are considered unable to work, and you can still claim lost wages for that period. You should get a letter from your employer stating that they could not accommodate your restrictions.

How This Affects Your Insurance Claim

Your lost wages are a key component of your economic damages in a personal injury claim. The insurance company for the at-fault driver is responsible for compensating you for this lost income.

To make them pay, your attorney will build a package that includes:

1. All of your doctor’s off-work notes.
2. A letter from your employer verifying your pay and the exact dates you missed.
3. Your pay stubs to prove your rate of income.

This combination of medical and employment documentation creates an undeniable link between the accident, your injuries, and your financial losses.

Your health must be your number one priority. Returning to work before your doctor gives you the all-clear is a risk to your long-term well-being and can damage your legal claim. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in the Tacoma area and are unable to work, search the Car Accident Lawyer Directory Tacoma. Compare profiles and read reviews of trusted local attorneys who can help you navigate your lost wages claim and give you the peace of mind to focus on your recovery.

References

• Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) – Personal Injury Protection (PIP):Official guidance explaining that PIP benefits include wage loss coverage if a doctor disables you from work.https://www.insurance.wa.gov/personal-injury-protection-pip-and-how-it-works-your-auto-insurance-policy
• Washington Pattern Jury Instructions (WPI 30.01.01) – Measure of Economic… Damages:The official instruction for juries, which explicitly lists “the reasonable value of earnings lost” as a primary category of economic damages that must be proven.https://www.courts.wa.gov/superiori/pattern_jury_instructions/WPI%2030.01.01%20Measure%20of%20Economic%20and%20Noneconomic%20Damages%20-%20Personal%20Injury%20-%20Adult.pdf