Chicago Personal Injury Attorney
If you’re injured at work, your life doesn’t just stop. You may wonder about taking a vacation or trip to relax and unwind. In fact, this may seem like an ideal time for travel since you can’t work and may need to unwind or treat yourself following the stress of a workplace injury.
There is no law preventing you from taking a vacation when you’re injured, and you can certainly take a trip when you’re on workers’ compensation. However, there are some things you’ll want to consider.
If you’re asking yourself “Am I allowed to take a vacation while on workers’ comp?” the answer is yes, but you’ll need to keep a few things in mind.
Even if you decide to travel, you’re still required to see your medical care professionals and maintain treatment for your workplace injuries. Missing an appointment to vacation will likely be seen as a failure to comply with your medical treatment. Therefore, if you’re planning a trip, make sure it will not interfere with your treatment and appointments in any way.
Insurance companies may hire personal investigators after you file for workers’ compensation. They do so to check the veracity of your claims. If they see you on vacation doing anything that runs counter to your doctor’s restrictions, or if there’s any data about you taking part in activities you should not be able to do because of your injury, your workers’ comp benefits may be affected.
For the same reason, you need to be careful about what you post on social media while you’re injured and getting benefits, whether you go on vacation or not. If you have concerns about your social media use or travel plans, you may want to consult with an attorney first to make sure you can protect your rights to benefits.
In some injury situations, you may be mandated to be looking for another job while you’re getting workers’ compensation benefits. For example, if you’ve been seriously injured and can no longer do your job, you may need to find new employment following an assessment. Should this be the case, you’re required to be looking for a job and gathering documentation of the search. Going on vacation doesn’t change that.
One of the common questions the attorneys at Argionis & Associates get asked most is “Can I go on vacation while on workers’ comp?” We’re pleased to tell our clients that they can take a trip, but we advise them to keep some caveats in mind.
If you’re concerned about your workers’ compensation benefits, need representations during the workers’ compensation process or are having trouble getting your rightful benefits, trust Argionis & Associates for a free, confidential consultation and case review. We will not broker your case out, and with us, you’ll always speak to a workers’ compensation attorney about your case instead of being handed over to a law clerk. For professional and compassionate representation as you fight for your rights, reach out to us now.