- December 31, 2015
If you are in a car accident, you may be able to replace your car and most injuries will heal, but the income and opportunities you lose after a car accident can affect your entire life.
A long hospital stay can mean large medical bills. Long hospital stays may also result in loss wages and possibly unemployment. If your injuries resulted from the acts of a negligent, or careless, driver then you may be entitled to damages for lost wages for the days you missed work. If you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit or file an insurance claim for lost wages, then you will need to provide evidence of lost wages. This quick guide will help you understand how to calculate your lost wages.
Calculating Current Wages
To make a claim for lost wages, you will need to be able to demonstrate evidence of your present income. Generally, you can request a letter from your employer or use a past tax return. If you are a small business owner or work as a freelancer, then proving lost wages may be a bit more complicated. You will need to provide the insurance company or your attorney information so that they can develop an accurate estimate of income that you would have earned if you had been able to work.
Calculating Future Wages
You may also be able to seek damages for the impact your injury may have in the long term on your ability to earn wages. This is particularly true if the accident you were in resulted in a permanent disability. This type of claim is important for people who work in hands-on trades like construction, food service or retail. In order to be awarded future wages, you will need to show proof of your long-term disability. You will need to provide the court with detailed records that demonstrate the scope and impact of your injury. If you are litigating your claim, an expert witness can testify about the impact of your injuries on your ability to earn any future income.
Valuing Lost Employment Opportunities
Accident victims suffer both physical and mental injuries. After an accident, it may be hard for some people to continue on with their lives. These sorts of emotional injuries can result in lost employment opportunities. You will want to work with an attorney to try to estimate the impact your injury had on your ability to look for and keep a job.
Contact an Attorney
Returning back to normal life after an accident can be difficult. If an accident was very traumatic you may need to be in the hospital or in rehabilitation for an extended period of time. During this time, your hospital bills rack up and you lose income. If you have been injured in a car accident and you are struggling to prove your lost wages, then you should contact the car accident attorneys at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers, PLLC. We can help you gather information you need and advise you on the best way to calculate your lost wages. Please contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.
