Concussion Central Episode 2 - Know Your Rights - The Law and Concussions with James Cameron
Channel: Concussion Central
Date: 01/11/2022

Return-to-work, return-to-play, and return-to-learn are all terms used to describe returning to your life after a concussion.  They are terms that your doctors, your employers and/or your educators will use to describe your concussion recovery and management.  In this episode, we wanted to talk about how to return to work successfully, and what kind of strategy might be needed and reached out to some experts.   James Cameron and the folks at Raven Law have been a great resource for the team at Concussion Central so we brought them on the show.

David and James walk us through helping people with concussions return to work or enter long-term disability; he outlines the problems and mistakes he’s seen and explains how some well-timed legal advice can set up positive outcomes.

Returning to work shouldn’t be a frightening or frustrating process, and there are many ways to do it, but it’s crucial to consult ahead of your return. Even with the clearance from your treating physician, there are times, though, when you might need help explaining your concussion to your employer. It can often be challenging – to negotiate required accommodations when your symptoms may be almost invisible to others. A coherent strategy can help people with concussions get the right kind of workplace accommodation they need or help navigate the long-term disability application process.

Concussion Central would like to emphasize that choosing a lawyer is up to you. Mr. Cameron has some good advice; find a lawyer specializing in employment law and ideally with concussion experience. Ask your friends or family members who they would recommend.

Here are some statistics to start our conversation:

In Ontario, over 150, 000 people, every year, are diagnosed with a concussion
50% of those people will return to work within 1 month
80% will return to work within 6 months
20% will be unable to return to work and will need help navigating their disability benefits.

For additional information, consult our website at concussion.ca.