Lost wages are an important aspect of personal injury claims due to the fact that many people miss time at work after they have been injured in a car accident. If you have suffered from serious injuries that led to an extended hospital stay, you will typically spend time away from work for weeks, months, and even permanently in some cases. Not being able to return to work in a period of time can impact all aspects of your life, especially on a financial level. As you struggle to keep up with the bills, you might wonder what options you have.

Various Types of Lost Wages Following a Car Accident 

Past Lost Wages: Past lost wages are those that you have already sustained in the past months and years following your accident. If you took off from work so that you could focus on recovering and did not get paid for that period of time, you can recover wages as part of your damages in your claim. To prove that you are owed these damages, you should keep all of your doctor’s notes excusing you from work to ensure that everything is documented properly. 

Future Lost Wages: If you have suffered from severe injuries such as paralysis or traumatic brain injuries, you might not be able to work for a long period of time or even permanently. You have the right to, therefore, compensate for future lost wages. This could require the help of an expert witness who will testify and show the court that you are unable to return to work.

Diminished Earning Capacity: Diminished earning capacity lost wages occur when you are able to go back to work but not on the same level that you were able to work before your accident. For instance, you might not be able to work as many hours as you used to be able to, or you might have to take a certain position since you can’t work certain jobs anymore.

How You Can Prove Lost Wages 

If you are able to show certain types of documentation, you can prove that you have lost wages as a result of your car accident. Some of these ways will help you prove these damages:

• Your boss signing official documentation about your lost wages.
• Lost wages form filled out by Human Resources.
• Tax returns and bank statements of the past.
• Letters from customers saying that you have been unable to complete work for them if you are self-employed.
• Evidence of your past earnings such as pay stubs that show what you would have made if the accident hadn’t happened.
• Expert witness statements proving that you have a diminished earning capacity since your accident.

How an Attorney Can Help After an Accident 

At Sheftall & Associates, our dedicated car accident attorneys have dedicated ourselves to helping you through one of the most difficult times in your life after an accident. We have aggressively fought to protect the rights of those involved in collisions when they believe that another party is at fault. We understand how overwhelmed you might be feeling and the impact that this accident has had on your life. Please contact our skilled accident attorneys at (904) 575-9026 to find out how we can help you through these challenging times.