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A personal injury accident can leave you facing a lengthy recovery, and you may be unable to return to work for some time. One of the biggest concerns you may have is how you will supplement that loss of income. Fortunately, victims are entitled to seek reimbursement for lost wages through a personal injury claim.
A personal injury lawsuit is designed with the intent to put you back into the position you were in before the accident, which is why you are able to seek damages from the responsible party. Damages is the legal term for the sum of money meant to compensate you for your losses. Part of that sum is known as economic damages, which will take into account the time you have had to take off of work and any income you may lose in the future due to your injury. Hiring an experienced attorney will be critical, as they will have the resources to accurately estimate the amount of income you will lose.
Many employers will force employees to use up their paid time off (PTO) or vacation days, as well as sick days, if they must miss work due to an injury. You can still file a claim and ask for reimbursement for the paid time off you were forced to take since when you go back to work, you will not get that PTO back.
Past lost wages are relatively easy to prove because you have already missed work and can easily add up the amount of compensation you are entitled to. Establishing past lost wages typically involves testimony and documentation from your employer to confirm your absences and the earnings you would have received had you been able to work.
Future lost wages, on the other hand, are more challenging to prove. You will have to supply evidence on the length of time you can reasonably expect to miss work, as well as whether you will or will not be able to return to work in some capacity. Parties typically heal over time to some degree and may be able to return to work part-time or full-time, which can make it even harder to estimate future lost income. Since this type of loss is more subjective, the value of future lost income will typically depend on your case’s unique factors.
If you or someone you love has been injured due to another party’s negligent or reckless behavior, speak to a St. Louis Personal Injury lawyer today. Proving lost wages and the process of estimating an accurate figure can be complicated. An experienced personal injury attorney at Goldblatt + Singer can help you by evaluating your lost wages claim and determining the amount of compensation you are owed. We offer free consultations and will help you fight for what you deserve. Call (314) 231-4100 or send us a message online.