Income or wage loss is all about losses that you incur from the date of the accident till the day you return to work. You are eligible to reclaim all spent earnings devoid of tax deductions. Let us try to understand more about this article.
Even though you are eligible for reimbursement for the time missed from work, it is significant to keep in mind that your boss will want to make sure that you could not possibly work. You must have a prescription from your medical practitioner, which is a form of document that states that you need medical leave from work. If you take leave from your work without any prior notice and especially do not have a doctor’s note, then it becomes difficult to contest your loss of wages.
Furthermore, if you assert that you are not capable to work as a result of grievances sustained, you will have to establish the amount of money you lost as a direct consequence of the injury. In easy words, in addition to the proof provided by your doctor, you will also need a letter on your employer’s letterhead and/or copies of your pay stubs that will specify how much time was taken and what your overall pay was for that period of time. “Remember, even if you used vacation or sick time, you are still entitled to your lost earnings for that period because you would not have used up your vacation and/or sick time but for being injured. Typically, compensation covers the costs of medical treatment, hospitalizations, and prescription medications. It also covers lost wages, which is the money you lose if the injury causes you to miss days of work. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may miss days, weeks, or months of work. In some cases, a serious injury can impact your ability to work in the future. A skilled car accident lawyer will walk you through every step of the claims process and ensure that you receive the maximum financial benefits to which you are entitled.”[1]
Past Wages versus Future Wages: “Injuries involving broken bones, contusions, sprains, and strains may cause you to miss several days of work for follow-up treatments, doctor’s appointments, and physical therapy.
If you do not get paid days off, this can cause serious financial difficulties. To secure compensation for past lost wages, you must prove that your missed days of work were caused by your injury. You can do this by obtaining medical records from your physician and providing copies of pay stubs and income documents from the days of work missed. Injuries that are more severe may impact your ability to work in the future. Calculating future lost wages can be tricky because it is based on the amount of money you would lose in the future, and sometimes the future is unclear. Essentially, you will need to establish the difference between the value of your services before and after your injury. To collect compensation for future wage loss, you must be able to prove that the injury is permanent and has diminished your earning capacity. You will need to provide evidence that indicates your future earning potential had you not been injured. Evidence may include the following:
- Testimony from medical experts about whether a full recovery is possible, and what your capabilities and limitations may be if a full recovery is unlikely,
- Medical evidence that shows how your injuries will likely impact your ability to carry out your job responsibilities,
- Input from an expert financial professional about what your income could have been if you were not injured, and what you can expect to earn considering your physical and/or cognitive limitations resulting from the injury.”[2]
If you or anyone you know were injured in a car accident, caused by someone else’s negligence, you will probably be entitled to monetary benefits. This is even when your employer reimburses you for the days you missed work. You need to contact a personal injury attorneys, who can assist you in understanding more about wage recovery from an accident.
To know more, visit Layman Litigation
[1] Recovering for Lost Wages (autoaccident.com) [2] Recovering Compensation for Lost Wages - HG.org
