How Work Restrictions Affect Your Workers’ Compensation Settlement

Work restrictions don’t just determine when you can return to duty — they can have a direct impact on your workers’ compensation settlement. For injured firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and other first responders, medical restrictions often play a central role in determining long-term disability benefits and settlement value.

Understanding how work restrictions affect your workers’ compensation settlement can help ensure your future medical and financial needs are fully considered.

What Are Work Restrictions?

Work restrictions are medical limitations assigned by your treating doctor after a job-related injury. These restrictions define what you can safely do while recovering — and, in some cases, what you may never be able to do again.

Common restrictions for first responders include:

• No heavy lifting or carrying equipment

• No emergency response duties

• No prolonged standing or walking

• No defensive tactics or physical confrontations

• Limited shifts or modified assignments

If these restrictions continue after Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), they may become permanent. Our guide on work restrictions and permanent disability in California workers’ comp explains how this transition happens.

Why Work Restrictions Matter in Settlement Negotiations

Insurance companies evaluate settlements based largely on the severity and permanence of medical limitations. The more restrictive your work limitations are, the more likely your injury will lead to higher permanent disability benefits and increased settlement value.

Work restrictions can affect:

• Permanent disability ratings

• Future wage-loss compensation

• Ability to return to your prior job

• Need for future medical treatment

• Eligibility for disability retirement (for first responders)

You can also explore how disability ratings are calculated in our article on permanent restrictions and disability ratings in California workers’ comp.

Temporary vs. Permanent Restrictions: How Work Restrictions Affect Your Workers’ Compensation Settlement

Temporary Restrictions

Temporary restrictions mainly affect wage-replacement benefits (Temporary Disability). They usually do not drive settlement value unless the injury later proves permanent.

Permanent Restrictions

Permanent restrictions often increase the value of a workers’ compensation settlement because they:

• Limit future earning capacity

• Increase permanent disability percentages

• Require long-term or lifetime medical care

For first responders, permanent restrictions can mean being unable to return to active duty — a major factor in settlement negotiations.

Disputes Over Work Restrictions

Insurance companies sometimes argue that restrictions are “not that limiting” or that the injured worker can still perform essential duties. When this happens, medical-legal evaluations such as a Qualified Medical Evaluation (QME) may be required to clarify permanent limitations.

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation provides general information on how medical evaluations affect benefits at The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC).

How First Responders Are Uniquely Affected

Because firefighting and law enforcement duties are physically and mentally demanding, even moderate restrictions can end a career. A firefighter restricted from climbing ladders or a police officer restricted from field duty may face disability retirement rather than reassignment.

These realities often make work restrictions one of the most important factors in determining settlement value for first responders.

Protecting Your Settlement Rights

Work restrictions must accurately reflect the true demands of your job. If restrictions are minimized or ignored, settlement offers may be unfairly low.

At West Coast Workers Comp Attorneys (WCWCA), we help injured first responders ensure medical limitations are properly documented and factored into settlement negotiations. We fight to protect long-term financial security and future medical care.

Call 415-218-5634 or visit our contact page to discuss your workers’ compensation claim.