If you’ve been in an accident and sustained serious injuries, it’s possible that you won’t be able to go to work for some quite time. It’s natural that you’re worried about how you’ll provide for your family and pay all the bills that won’t wait.
Fortunately, if the accident happened in Florida, you are entitled to recover your lost wages after an accident. It’s vital that you have an experienced personal injury attorney who will help you file a lost wages claim and lead your case. Read ahead and you’ll find all the relevant pieces of information you need to know about recovering lost wages.
What is lost wages?
You may ask what lost wages actually means and here’s the answer: It’s is the element of damages that can be recovered from the defendant according to the state law. Lost wages and lost earning capacity are the recoverable damages you are entitled to after an accident. Calculating lost wages is based on your actual losses and future projected losses.
What’s the difference between lost wages and lost earning capacity?
If you think there’s no difference between the two terms, you’re wrong. Although they’re often grouped together, there’s a difference. Lost wages refer to the actual lost work from the time you sustained injuries until your case is resolved. On the other hand, lost earning capacity refers to what you might lose long term. It may be hard to determine what your long-term losses will be but you are fully entitled to it.
What do lost wages and lost earning capacity include?
Have your attorney help you include all the types of lost compensation in your lost wages insurance claim. You can include hourly wages, bonuses, tips, incentive pay, benefits, vacation time, sick pay, promotion or rises.
How to prove lost wages?
To prove your losses, Attorney Dan Zohar highly recommends that you gather all the documentation that you can. This includes a written statement of your earnings at the time of the accident, tax statements and pay stubs. If you’re trying to prove your injuries will have a long-term impact, it’s advisable to work with a doctor in order to prove this fact.
What if you’re self-employed?
Don’t worry; even if you’re self-employed you have the right to get compensated. Make sure you prepare your documentation carefully. It can include business accounting or tax records to show what your losses are.
What to do if other side disagrees about how to calculate your lost wages?
If the other side or the insurance company don’t agree with how you calculated your lost wages, it’s up to the jury to decide. They can award you the lost wages as long as you show them to a reasonable certainty.
How can a personal injury attorney help?
DZ Firm, a law firm, is at your service 24/7 and attorney Dan Zohar, with his 30 years of experience, will help you build a strong claim and do his best to pursue it. If you or anyone you know sustained injuries in a personal injury accident and need help recovering lost income and lost earning capacity, contact The Law Office of Dan Zohar at (800) 963-3311 and get a free consultation! For pre-settlement funding assistance, click here.