After the 2008 recession, more individuals and families had to tighten their spending. When you are already on a tight budget, losing your wages or earning potential after an accident can be devastating. In the United States, many families are currently living paycheck-to-paycheck and struggling to make ends meet. Many had their hours cut back, lost their homes and even their jobs. If you have been injured because of someone’s negligence or recklessness, you have the right to compensation not only for damage to your property and your medical costs, but also your lost wages. This does not just include wages lost while recovering, it could also include wages for the future if you are unable to return to work or work as you did prior to the accident.
Wages Lost During a Hospital Admission
After a serious injury, it is likely that you will spend some time in a hospital recovering from your injuries. For some, hospital admissions turn into weeks – which means time away from work. You could claim your lost wages for that time as long as your injuries were the reason for your hospital stay or if you can prove that the accident aggravated a pre-existing condition that required you to be admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Wages Lost During Recovery
Even if you are not in the hospital for an extended stay, you may be unable to work while you recover at home. You may have a brain injury that requires you to rest, broken limb or even severe back injuries that prevent you from working. You can also receive compensation for such recovery and time away from work.
Doctor’s Visits or Rehabilitative Therapy Sessions
While most victims are aware they can collect compensation for days off work, they may not realize that they can also collect lost wages for doctor’s visits or therapy sessions that require them to take a few hours or half day off work to attend. As long as these visits, even if they are follow-ups and check-ups, are related to the injury, you can collect compensation for your time off.
When a Victim Loses a Job
Sometimes a lengthy recovery will force an employer to hire someone to replace the plaintiff. Other times a victim may be unable to return to work because of the severity of their injuries. If you have lost your job or you are unable to work because of the severity of your injuries, you could receive compensation for that loss of earning capacity.
Unfortunately, proving lost wages is highly complicated and a time-consuming process. You need an attorney that can calculate the typical wage losses you may experience – including projecting lost wages in the future – to ensure you get a fair settlement for your injury. If you have been injured in an accident, do not rely on the insurance company to worry about your lost wages. Instead, contact the attorneys at Carey, Danis & Lowe Attorneys at Law by calling toll-free at 877-678-3400 or fill out an online contact form.
