Being involved in a collision can cause more turmoil than just having to obtain medical attention for your injuries. Some of the effects might be longer-lasting such as, missing days from work, which can lead to lost wages. Many people suffer limitations that can have a huge financial impact on their lives in many ways. You have a right to compensation for lost income if you have missed time at work and should always speak with a skilled attorney about your options moving forward.

Receiving Compensation for Lost Wages and Lost Earning Capacity 

You have a right to receive compensation for any lost wages that result after not being able to return to work following your accident. There are many types of injuries that can keep you out of work for a short or extended period of time such as a broken leg or psychological injuries like PTSD. In these cases, you will find that you are entitled to recover wages that you would have made at work had your injury never happened. You will recover the same amount that you would have normally if you had been able to go to work after an accident.

You may find that you are also eligible for damages known as ‘lost earning capacity.’ This is when a permanent injury has kept you from returning to work in the future, which means that you may be kept from making any income at all. Even if you are still able to work but at a slightly lesser income after an accident, you can still recover in most cases. This is true when the disability prevents you from having a higher paying job that you would have had if you were never involved in the accident.

Aggravation of a Pre-Existing Injury 

If you hope to recover lost wages or lost earning capacity after an accident, your accident must have been the direct cause of your injuries. However, if you had a pre-existing condition before the accident, all hope is not lost. If the accident aggravated your pre-existing condition and now you cannot work as a result, you will find that you are still eligible for lost wages and lost earning capacity damages. Some pre-existing injuries, when worsened, can keep you out of work for a long time or even permanently.

Proving Your Lost Wages 

The best way to obtain compensation for lost wages is to show evidence that points to the need for these damages. The best way to prove this is to submit the most recent paycheck that you received before the accident. Earning capacity is not as easy to show because the severity of your injury and your line of work may be hard to explain to the insurance company or the courts. How much you recover could be called into question, which means that you might need a financial or economic expert.

How an Attorney Can Help After Your Accident 

After an accident, there are many aspects that can have a huge impact on your claim and your ability to recover. Because of this, you should always speak with a skilled car accident attorney at Sheftall & Associates, where we care about the outcome of your claim. Our attorneys are dedicated to helping you obtain justice and compensation in your time of need. Please contact our law firm in Florida at 904-647-2296 to find out what legal options are available for you.