SELF-EMPLOYED LITIGANTS STILL NEED “OFF-WORK” NOTES

When someone is injured due to another’s negligence, one of the many losses attorneys attempt to recover are earnings which were lost during periods of disability or incapacity that resulted from the injury-producing event.  Most of my clients who are traditional wage-earners typically request some type of doctor’s note excusing them from work.  However, I find that time and time again, people who are self-employed decline a doctor’s offer to write this “off-work” note, since there is no “boss” that they must report their absence to.

In the long run, this may be detrimental to their ability to fully recover their losses under the intense scrutiny of the insurance company representing a defendant.  It is preferable that all injured persons, whether self-employed, unemployed, or otherwise, obtain written “off-work” notes from any physician who believes they should refrain from any of their normal work activities.  This written evidence strengthens the validity of arguments that earnings losses were a necessary result of the injury-producing event, and increases an injured person’s chances of receiving full compensation for these losses.

An experienced, competent attorney will be able to provide an injured person with practical advice and suggestions on how to improve their chances of obtaining a full recovery of losses suffered, including medical expenses and pain and suffering.  Please be sure to consult with an attorney as soon as possible.