Vocational Rehabilitation and Your Recovery
Suffering a serious injury in an accident can turn your life upside down. Beyond the immediate medical care and recovery, many individuals find that their ability to return to their previous job is compromised.
When an injury limits your capacity to perform the work you once did, vocational rehabilitation may be a vital part of your path forward. Speak with a Bucks County personal injury attorney to learn more about how job concerns can be included in an injury claim and what you can do to ensure that you are compensated fairly.
What Is Vocational Rehabilitation?
Vocational rehabilitation is a set of services designed to help injured individuals re-enter the workforce. This can include career counseling, skills assessments, retraining programs, job placement assistance, and even support in earning new certifications or degrees. The goal is to help an injured individual secure employment that fits within their new physical or cognitive limitations.
In Pennsylvania, vocational rehabilitation can become part of a personal injury claim or a workers’ compensation case. When appropriate, these services are intended to help restore an individual’s ability to earn a living, even if that means changing careers.
If you can’t return to your former position and need retraining to earn a comparable income, discuss the possibility of employment rehabilitation with an injury recovery expert. Your economic damages may include the cost of vocational rehab and the loss of earning capacity.
Calculating these damages requires more than a simple review of wages. Courts and insurers will consider:
- Your age and pre-injury occupation
- What education and transferable skills you possess
- The severity and permanence of your injuries
- Labor market trends in Bucks County and nearby areas
- The cost and timeline of retraining or education programs
Because these factors are complex, injured parties often work with vocational experts and economists to establish the value of this portion of the claim.
Can You Navigate This Alone?
While it’s possible to pursue vocational rehabilitation without an attorney, it can be incredibly difficult to do so effectively. Insurance companies are not quick to offer these benefits unless the need is clearly documented and justified. And without professional support, injured individuals often accept settlements that fall far short of what they need to start over.
A skilled Bucks County personal injury attorney can connect you with medical professionals and vocational experts who can evaluate your capacity to work and build a plan for future employment. All of this is compelling evidence to support your claim. Your lawyer can handle negotiations with insurers too, ensuring that vocational rehab and lost future earnings are properly valued and included in your settlement.
Is a career shift due to an injury something you are facing? Know that you don’t have to figure it out alone. The attorneys at Kevin L. Hand, P.C. can help you pursue the full compensation you need to move forward, whether that’s returning to the workforce in a new role or securing long-term financial support. When you are ready to learn more, call 215-515-2604 for a confidential consultation.
