You have been in a wreck or work related injury? Your right to choose your course of life has been changed through no fault of your own. This is the plight of most of our clients. Following the injury, you feel as if you are different. You see the world through a different lens. You may not have had everything going your way before the injury but, at least you felt somewhat in control of where you were headed with your life. Now you are uncertain of who you are, what your options are and whether you will ever be the person you were before the injury. This psychological trauma can lead many people to adopt a victim role. The other option is to see the injury as a new opportunity. Though it is not the type of opportunity you would have chosen, nonetheless can develop you into a better and more productive member of society.
Were you working in your dream job before the collision or work related incident? If not, what did you dream of becoming when you were entering adulthood? Could this tragic event be an opportunity to try to pursue that dream and possibly have the recovery from the case pay for the schooling and supplies to reach your dream? Of course, sometimes the injury prevents very activities needed to reach your goal. In those cases, perhaps expanding your goal to include similar job opportunities can open up options. A person who dreamt of being a football player and then has a back surgery is not likely to be able to physically perform the job duties required to be a football player. However, maybe he can be a coach? Maybe he or she can be a recruiter? Maybe he or she can be a commentator on radio or television? Giving yourself something to look forward to during recovery from your injuries is very important to your recovery. Many times, a client with a positive attitude during recovery can shorten the recovery time. Unfortunately, the opposite also tends to occur.
It is very easy to fall into a negative mindset and view yourself as a victim after an injury. There is no shortage of valid reasons to substantiate this viewpoint. This mental state can be toxic to your recovery. It is easy to think everyone, but your lawyer, is against you. It is easy to see your pre-injury lifestyle as unattainable. It is very common for injury victims to become victims of consequential depression and/or anxiety. Once that happens the person can easily start to dwell on their pain. This rumination can lead to a chronic pain syndrome that is very difficult to defeat. To make things worse insurance carriers do very little to aid the victim. They are more concerned with saving money than helping the injured person get their lives back on track or on a new and better track. I routinely request a vocational rehabilitation evaluation immediately after a surgery that may alter the injured person's chance to return to his/her former job. This is usually met with a negative response. However, once we prove the consequential psychological injury the cost of the case skyrockets for the insurance carrier. You would think if they wanted to seriously save money, they would offer vocational rehabilitation as soon as possible.
At Zurawik Law Firm we want you to get back to work or start to move toward a new career as soon as possible in your case. We encourage our clients with a high school education to look at college catalogues and see if there is planning to obtain an education. Education can open up career paths many of our clients only dreamt of before their injury. Just because you are injured does not mean you lose your dignity. It does not mean you are defeated.
If you have been in a car wreck, a fall injury, a railroad injury or any accident causing injury, come in and see us. Talk to us and let's see how the Zurawik Law Firm can help you develop a plan to take control of your future rather than letting the insurance company control your future.