Can I claim compensation after an accident if I did not take time off work?
Yes, you can! Many people think that they are unable to claim compensation if the injury did not result in time off work or if they were paid in full during an absence from work due to the injury. However, even if you did not lose any earnings and were able to continue working after an accident you are still entitled to claim compensation for the pain and discomfort caused by the injury.
Should I take time off work after an accident?
Whether you need to take time off work after an accident will depend on the type of injury sustained and the kind of job that you do. Many people, particularly those with a less physically demanding job, are able to continue working after an accident despite their injury. If you continue to work after an accident you can still claim compensation for the injury itself.
Take medical advice
In many cases your doctor or the hospital will advise you to take some time off to help you recover after suffering an injury in an accident. However, in lots of cases the decision to take time off will rest with you. The fact that you are considering or making a claim for compensation should not influence your decision to take time off work. If you feel well enough to go to work, you should do so unless your doctor advises otherwise.
What if I did not take time off after an accident at work?
If you do take time off work after an accident it is important that you follow your employer’s rules about reporting sickness absence. You should also ensure that you provide your employer with appropriate sick-notes. You can self-certify yourself as unfit for work for the first week but if your absence continues beyond a week you will need to obtain a sick-note from your GP.
It is important that any time off work is specifically stated to be as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. If this point is not clear it may be difficult to claim any loss of earnings that you incur as a result of the absence.
It will help your solicitor if you keep a record of the dates of any absence from work through injury. However, if you do not know the precise dates don’t worry: your solicitor will be able to obtain this information (if required) from your employer.