On Feb. 11, a restaurant patron drove an SUV toward Taqueria, hitting the exterior. Two of the restaurant workers were injured as a result and were hospitalized.
Before the accident, a party came into the restaurant about 10 minutes before closing. The workers refused to serve them as they appeared drunk. They then started to throw things and even spit on managers. One of the members of the party then jumped into an SUV and drove the vehicle toward the crowd and crashed into the restaurant.
Taqueria had to close down for a little while after the accident, but has since reopened.
How to Go Back to Work After Getting Hurt at Work
If you got injured while working, like the two employees at Taqueria, you may be eligible for workers compensation benefits. Your doctor may have you take time off work to recover. Here are some tips to return to your job after a work accident.
- Do not go back to work without your doctor’s approval. If you have been out of work because of your injury for a while, you may be anxious to go back. Lying around on the couch all day can get boring after a while. However, you should avoid doing so before your doctor gives you the go-ahead. If you go back to work before you recover, you risk reinjuring yourself.
- Stay in touch with your employer. When you have to take time off work for an injury, it is important to maintain regular communication with your employer. Provide frequent updates about how you are doing and when your doctor says you can go back to work. Doing so will show your employer that you want to return to work as soon as you are better.
- Ask for reasonable accommodations. Even if your doctor approves you to go back to work, you may need accommodations to do your job. If this is the case, the legal professionals at Rispoli & Borneo P.C. advise you to ask your employer for these accommodations. For example, you may be required to sit in a chair while you perform your duties or have shorter hours. Employers are required to provide their workers reasonable accommodations if it doesn’t cause them hardship. If your employer fails to provide reasonable accommodations, you should speak with New Jersey work injury lawyers about the matter.
- Listen to your body. When you go back to work, it is important to listen to your body and not push it past its limits. After all, you do not want to risk re-injuring yourself. If you feel discomfort, you should stop what you are doing and see your doctor. If you need assistance with a certain task, do not hesitate to ask a coworker.
If you want to file a workers compensation claim, you should schedule a consultation with a work injury lawyer as soon as possible to talk about your case.