It’s typical for people in Aiken to miss work because of injuries from auto accidents. This can be tough because they might lose income when they need it. Dealing with this extra problem can make an already hard situation even harder. The rising expenses and the lack of income might be an added cause of stress for Aiken auto accident victims.
Highly experienced Aiken auto accident attorneys can help ease some of the stress. These experienced legal professionals handle all the difficulties involved in filing a claim and make sure that victims get fair compensation for their losses.
This article talks about all the essential elements you need to know about lost wages and how to recover them.
What Are Lost Wages?
Lost wages are a type of economic damage often mentioned by insurance companies. These damages cover financial losses resulting from an auto accident.
Following a motor vehicle accident, many victims find themselves unable to work. If this applies to you, you might be entitled to compensation for your lost wages.
However, lost income encompasses more than just your regular wages. It may also include:
- Salaries and wages
- Benefits
- Loss of paid time off, like vacation time, sick leave, and holiday pay
- Decreased earning potential due to lasting impairments or disabilities affecting your ability to work
- Commissions
- Bonuses
- Future income loss
Seeking compensation for lost wages after an auto accident shouldn’t be overly complex. Nonetheless, some insurance companies might try to minimize payments for lost wages.
For instance, the claims adjuster might argue that your employer already compensated you for lost wages, suggesting you can’t claim them again. However, this assertion isn’t necessarily accurate.
Similarly, the insurance company might contend that your medical records don’t indicate a permanent impairment that would impact your future earnings. They might also dispute claims for commissions or bonuses. Yet, these arguments may not hold true in every case.
How to Recover Lost Wages After an Auto Accident?
To recover lost wages after an auto accident, you can start by tallying up your regular income if you receive a salary. This includes any bonuses or paid time off that your employer confirms in writing.
For those with more variable earnings like overtime or commissions, figuring out lost income might be trickier. If the accident affects your ability to work in the future, you might also be entitled to compensation for future lost wages or reduced earning potential.
In such cases, you might need medical experts to prove your inability to work and financial experts to calculate potential future earnings based on factors like age, job, education, and market conditions.
Experienced auto accident lawyers have access to such experts and will be of immense help in handling lost wage claims.
How to Prove Lost Income After a Car Accident?
If you’ve been in an auto accident and got hurt, leading to lost wages, you might be wondering how to prove them.
For most regular workers, proving lost wages is quite simple. You’ll need to show things like your pay stubs and records of time off to prove how much income you’ve lost due to the accident. Also, you’ll need to provide records showing how much money you would’ve made in the future.
Your medical records are also important evidence for proving lost wages. These records will include doctor notes explaining if you can work and how your injuries will affect your job.
While there’s no exact list of evidence for proving lost wages, experienced auto accident lawyers can help collect and present any relevant evidence effectively for your claim.
Final Thoughts
You deserve to be compensated for the income you couldn’t earn while you were recovering from the accident. Auto accident attorneys in Aiken work hard to secure full compensation, including all elements, like lost wages and pain and suffering.