Going Back to Work After an Accident: Lost Wages, PIP and Your Job in Utah
Your back will not let you lift. The dizziness will not let you drive. And on Monday you have to tell your boss something.
For many families, the hardest hit from an accident is not the hospital bill: it is the paycheck that stops coming. Utah has help for that, but it has limits, and what you do in the first weeks can affect both your income and your claim.
How much PIP pays toward your wages
Utah PIP pays the lesser of $250 per week or 85% of your lost gross income, for up to 52 consecutive weeks. Those are the legal minimums; your policy may carry more, so check it. It applies even if the crash was your fault.
| Your weekly gross income | 85% | Minimum PIP pays | Weekly shortfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250 | $212.50 | $212.50 | $37.50 |
| $600 | $510 | $250 | $350 |
| $1,000 | $850 | $250 | $750 |
Two details almost nobody knows:
- The first three days. PIP does not have to pay the first three days of disability, unless the disability lasts more than two consecutive weeks after the injury.
- Household tasks. If you cannot do them, PIP includes up to $20 per day for up to 365 days, under the same three-day rule.
What PIP does not cover — such as the shortfall in the table — can be claimed against the at-fault driver, if there are grounds to do so. We explain it in who pays your medical bills after a car accident in Utah. And if that driver has no insurance, see what to do when you are hit by an uninsured driver.
Were you on the job when you crashed? If you were driving for work, the case may involve workers' compensation, which has its own rules and notices. Tell your employer as soon as possible and ask your attorney how the coverages work together.
How to protect your job
The federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of leave in a 12-month period for a serious health condition that keeps you from working. The leave is unpaid, but when you return you must get the same job or an equivalent one back.
Not everyone qualifies. You generally need:
- A private employer with 50 or more employees (public agencies are covered regardless of size).
- At least 12 months with the company and 1,250 hours worked in the previous 12 months.
- A work location with 50 or more employees within 75 miles.
If you do not qualify, talk to HR about your company’s options: disability, accrued time off or restricted duty. Your employer is not always required to create a light-duty position, so if they refuse or your job is at risk, consult an employment attorney.
The doctor’s note that actually works
A note that only says “light duty” tends to create more problems than it solves. Ask your provider for one that states:
What your work note should include
- Whether you can work or not, and from what date.
- Specific restrictions: how much weight, how long standing or sitting, whether you can drive.
- Allowed hours, if part-time or with breaks.
- How long the restrictions last and when they will be reviewed.
- Your diagnosis only as needed: your employer does not need your whole chart.
Returning without a setback
Describe your real job
Tell your provider what you do on a normal day: lifting, bending, driving, hours at a computer. The note depends on it.
A gradual return
If your job allows it, start with fewer hours or lighter tasks. Take breaks and keep up your home exercises.
Say so and document it
Write down which task made the pain worse and tell your provider. Restrictions can be adjusted.
Do not drop your treatment
Book early or late appointments. Stopping because you went back to work is one of the most common ways to relapse, and it leaves gaps that hurt your claim.
What you do also counts for the insurer. Do not take on heavy side jobs while you are off work, and be careful what you post on social media.
Which documents to keep
- Pay stubs from before and after the accident.
- A letter from your employer with your pay, your hours and the days you missed.
- Every work note from your providers.
- If you are self-employed: tax returns, invoices and records of jobs you lost.
- A log of days and hours missed, including medical appointments.
The short version
Utah PIP pays part of your wages, with a minimum benefit of up to $250 a week, and FMLA leave can protect your job if you qualify. Ask for a note with specific restrictions, return gradually and do not drop your treatment. And keep every record: what PIP does not cover can be part of your claim.
Sources
This article is informational and does not replace legal advice or an individual medical evaluation. If you were in a car accident in the Salt Lake City area, Car Injury Clinic (Taylorsville, UT) offers same-day evaluation, free transportation and coordination with your attorney. Call 385-242-8571 or book an appointment.
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