After you have been off work, the doctor signs a release that allows you to return to work. If there are any restrictions due to an accident, the doctor must put that in writing.

No heavy lifting

In many cases, a doctor may specify that you are restricted to “light duty” work, as least temporarily.

Work restrictions often limit the amount of weight you can lift. That may be a limit of 15 pounds, about the weight of three reams of paper. If a job requires you to lift and move materials, restrictions can impact the amount of hours you can work or whether you can even do the job.

If your employer does not have any light duty work available, then the employer must state that in writing. Again, this is documentation required for the insurance company.

No long periods of sitting

In another example, computer work might not involve heavy lifting, but may require that you sit in the same chair in front of a computer for 8 hours a day. If that situation aggravates any injuries if you sit for more than 2 hours at a time, then your doctor must provide more details about work restrictions.

You can’t do the same job

For a serious injury, you may never be able to go back to doing the work you did before the accident.

For example, the tasks done by a pipe fitter make it a very physical job. That type of work generally does not require a college degree. Being hurt in an accident to the point where it’s not possible to lift heavy objects affects not only the employee’s ability to do the job, but may have a major life impact.

What if you are self-employed?

If you are self-employed, you might find yourself in a situation where you previously did everything yourself, but now cannot handle all the tasks.

Even if you continued working, you had to hire someone to do some or all of the work because of injuries sustained in the accident. For example, you used to take care of all inventory for a small shop, but now need someone to lift and move boxes, unpack items, stock shelves, and so on. That expense can be part of a claim.

Details about wage loss can be complicated

Our office has years of experience working with clients when they are dealing with work restrictions after an accident. Call our office if you have any questions about the details of your situation.

As a good citizen of your community, you purchased automobile insurance as required by state law. With that policy, you likely also purchased Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.

Benefits of PIP coverage

Our earlier blog talked about the definition and scope of coverage of PIP insurance. But what benefits does that coverage actually provide when you’ve been injured in an automobile accident?

Medical expenses

You likely purchased Personal Injury Protection coverage with your auto insurance to help pay medical bills. That coverage is generally phrased as “ … reasonable and necessary costs associated with medical and hospital costs related to injuries suffered in an accident.”

That can include ambulance bills, hospital bills, bills from a surgeon or anesthesiologist, diagnostic studies (x-rays, MRI’s, CT scans, etc.), massage therapy, physical therapy, chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, prescription drugs, crutches, and so on.

PIP coverage varies from state to state for types of treatments that are considered reasonable and customary. For example, in Washington, acupuncture is a permissible medical treatment, while in California it is not.

Funeral expenses

What you may not realize is that PIP provides coverage to pay for expenses other than hospital costs and medical treatment.

Although no one likes to think about it, funeral expenses might result from a traffic accident. Some policies include a small death benefit.

Loss of Income

For example, if you are unable to work because of the accident, you may lose some or all of your income. Most PIP policies have a provision for loss of income (subject to the limits of the policy).

You may need to hire someone to do tasks that you are not able to do because you are injured, such as child care, house cleaning, or yard care.

Who does PIP cover?

PIP covers expenses of the insured, others in its vehicle at the time of the loss, and pedestrians struck by the vehicle, regardless of who was at fault. Remember, though, that expenses are covered only up to the dollar amount listed in the policy.

The at-fault driver does not pay

Even if it’s obvious that the other drive is at fault, your insurance company pays first.

However, even your insurance company will not pay for medical expenses or lost wages until the claim is settled – and that could take weeks or months. The at-fault party does not pay any expenses over and above your PIP coverage until you have first settled with your own insurance company.

As your medical treatments continue, the bills keep coming in. Your expenses add up, and the medical providers want to be paid.

We can help you understand the process, move the claim along, and assist with the paperwork. Call our office today to discuss of your situation and how we can help.

No one ever wants it to happen, but at some point you might be involved in an accident.
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, vans, and commercial vehicles all start, stop, and move along at various rates of speed. They are all equipped with mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and electronic systems—all opportunities for failure.

Then there are drivers. Distracted, drunk, or with just plain bad driving habits.

Accidents happen

So accidents do happen. And vehicles and people get smashed up. Our blog today deals with looking at and appraising the damage and destruction to a vehicle involved in a personal injury claim.

Moving the vehicle

In a minor “fender bender”, of course, you might have been able to drive your vehicle. However, you should not move your vehicle after an accident unless it’s a safety hazard.

Cooperate with all law enforcement and emergency personnel at the scene of the accident. Do not move the vehicle or leave the scene of an accident until the police tell you it is okay to do so. They are there to keep everyone safe—not only the people and vehicles involved in the collision, but other drivers on the road.

Where did the tow truck go?

If the extent of the damage was such that your vehicle was towed, you need to gather some basic information. Be sure to do this before the tow truck driver leaves the scene of the accident with your vehicle!

• Name and telephone number of the tow company


• Name of the driver


• Tow truck number or license plate


• Location (street address) where they are taking the car


• Company policies (fees for towing and storage, hold period, liens against vehicle)

Disposal by the tow company

Tow truck companies usually charge separate fees for towing and storage. Always ask about the cost of fees applied for each day the vehicle is held in storage. Did you know that, if payment is not made, a tow company can file a lien and sell the vehicle? The periods vary by state and local law.

If you are in the hospital or possibly waiting for a paycheck to clear the fees, be sure to communicate with the tow company or have someone do so on your behalf. Our office is happy to help. Making arrangements can avoid the loss of your vehicle.

Insurance company access

Although a body shop can prepare an estimate, at some point the insurance company will want to take a look at the vehicle to assess the damage and take photographs. Cooperate with any requests and provide access to the vehicle. If the car is in storage, authorize access for the insurance company representative. They need this information to resolve your claim.

As always, we are here to help. If you have questions or need assistance in working on your personal injury claim, call us today.

An insurance company will often call to ask that you make a recorded statement about an accident. That request may come from your own insurance company or the insurance company for the other party involved in an accident where there are injuries or property damage.

Why not?

Giving a statement about an accident to an insurance company seems like a reasonable request. After all, why would it be a problem? The accident was clearly the fault of the other party. Even a police report might document that. Perhaps the other party even admitted their responsibility at the scene of the accident.

Why do they want to record it?

Look at the situation from the opposite perspective. If information about the accident is already available, why would the insurance company need to record a statement from you?

The answer should be obvious: They are trying to reveal any information that will help them, not you.

This is likely true even if it is your own insurance company, for no other reason than all businesses today are trying to control costs. And claims cost money that might otherwise become profits for the company. While agents and clerks are not specifically told to deny claims, it’s highly probable that they are instructed to carefully review all details of an accident claim and hold down expenses.

Why making a recorded statement might be difficult

Giving a recorded statement over the phone sounds like a simple task, but in reality, there are a myriad of factors that can impact how you present information. You’ve been in an accident and sustained injuries, after all, so may not be feeling well. You might still be in the hospital when they call.

Or it could be as basic as the fact that you might be nervous talking to strangers or answering a barrage of questions. You may be fatigued. You might be taking pain medication. They might call you at your place of work. You might not be comfortable articulating specific answers. You might be distracted while on the phone.

Are you required to record a statement?

There is no legal requirement to provide a recorded statement. Liability can be determined without it. In most circumstances, the recorded statement is made for the interests of the insurance company, not for processing your claim.

What if they keep asking?

You may feel pressure to comply with the request. This can be particularly distressing if you are still not feeling well. Stress can impact your health and healing.

Remember, although most of us try to be helpful and responsive and do what we can to resolve a situation, you are under no obligation to give a recorded statement. You don’t always have to be nice and give everyone who calls what they want from you.

We work with insurance companies all the time

As your legal representative, our offices can deal with insurance companies and ensure they receive whatever information they need to process your claim. We can work with your own insurance company as well as the insurance company for any other parties involved in the accident. Our office can also serve as a buffer between you and any callers to handle whatever requests they might have. We will stand by you, so you can relax and get better.

We’re here to help, so call us today if you have any questions about dealing with an insurance claim for injuries from an accident. This is what we do, every day, and we do it well. Let us work with you to resolve your claim and get payment for your medical bills, so you can move on with your life.