Louisiana Injury Lawyers Blog
You’re exhausted after a long day at the office and on your way home. Suddenly, there’s a screeching of tires and a harsh jolt that sends you forward in your seat.
In the aftermath of a severe car accident, you might suffer from a debilitating injury that can keep you out of work for weeks – or even permanently.
What will you do?
If you have been injured in a car accident, you might think it only possible to recover compensation for any medical treatment and for property damages. However, if your injuries are serious enough to prevent you from returning to work, you could be eligible to recover lost wages.
Were you involved in a car accident that left you unable to work? The dependable New Orleans accident attorneys of Cardone Law Firm can help you to secure the financial recovery you need to get your life back on track, including damages for lost wages if you are not able to return to work.
Learn more about making a lost wages claim below.
What Are Lost Wages
Those involved in a catastrophic car accident may need to take time off of work in order to heal from their injuries. Unfortunately, during this time, you may lose income and other benefits you would have received had you been working.
Essentially, lost wages is the money you would have earned from your employer from the time of the crash to the date your claim is settled and can include:
- Wages and any other financial compensation you would have received from your employer.
- Compensation for other financial benefits such as sick leave, bonuses, etc.
- Lost opportunities for increasing your wages.
A requirement for securing lost wages, however, is that your injuries must have resulted from the car accident not from some other event.
Proving Your Lost Income
You will also need to provide sufficient evidence in order to make a viable lost wages claim. Collecting detailed statements related to your injuries and lost wages are going to be essential, and can include:
- Medical Examination: Meet with your physician to discuss your injuries and ask them to provide you with a letter describing your injuries. The letter should be detailed and give an exact explanation of how long you are expected to be out of work including a list of medications you will be taking, the treatment you will be undergoing, and cost of medical bills associated with your injury.
- Employer Authorization Form: Your employer should provide a letter verifying the amount of time you have missed work due to your injuries.
- Pay Stubs & Tax Information: To prove loss of income, the easiest way is to provide recent pay stubs before the injury occurred.
Submitting a Lost Wages Claim
When attempting to recover lost wages, you have several options:
- You can file for lost wages with your own insurance company.
- File against the other driver’s insurance policy if they are liable.
- File a lawsuit against the other driver in order to secure a claim.
If filing through an insurance company, the terms and conditions may affect your ability to recover what is owed to you:
- Liability Bodily Injury Coverage: If you are injured in a crash caused by another driver’s negligence, their liability insurance may cover your lost wages.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: If the driver responsible for the accident doesn’t have insurance, you may still be able to collect lost wages through your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage – if you have that available.
If you have been badly injured in a car accident and will be unable to return to work, do NOT hesitate to contact the New Orleans car accident attorneys at Cardone Law Firm. We can help you to file a personal injury claim and fight to ensure you are able to recover all damages possible, including lost wages.
There are many factors that can affect your claim so it is best you work with an experienced law firm that can get the job done right.