CALCULATING AND PROVING LOST WAGES IN AN ACCIDENT CLAIM

There are many types of damages that result from a Sacramento accident claim. When you are in a motor vehicle accident, bicycle crash, slip and fall accident, or commercial truck accident, you suffer physical and emotional injuries. You also suffer several different types of financial damages. Medical bills are one of the most common types of financial damages incurred in an accident case. The second most common type of financial damage in an accident case is lost wages, income, and opportunities.

If you plan to claim loss of income in your accident claim, you need a skilled and experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer to help you calculate and prove your claim. The experienced injury attorneys of Tiemann Law Firm understand the types of evidence required to prove your loss of income claim. We will work with you to obtain the documentation needed to maximize your compensation for lost wages, income, and opportunities.

Proving and Calculating Loss of Income in a Personal Injury Case

When you are calculating lost wages for a personal injury claim, you must consider more than just actual lost income from your time in the hospital and recuperating at home. There are several elements involved in calculating a comprehensive loss of income claim.

• Actual Lost Wages
  The first element of a loss of income claim is your actual lost pay. This represents the total income you have lost while out of work due to the accident. You must present evidence proving your lost wages. Often we use past pay advices to establish your average wages. The average daily wage is multiplied by the number of days you missed from work to calculate your lost wages.
• Future Lost Wages
  In some cases, we may settle your claim even though you have not returned to work. If you have a permanent disability and you will be unable to return to work, you have a claim for future lost wages. We may be able to use your past pay history to estimate your future lost wages; however, we typically need an expert to calculate your future lost wages based on your age, past income, rate of inflation, and other factors. Our attorneys have worked with a number of experts in preparing future lost wages claims.
• Loss of Earning Capacity
  This may be relevant to your claim if you are able to return to work but you are unable to earn the same income as before the accident because of your injuries. You are entitled to receive the difference between what you could have earned and what you will actually earn. Experts also aid in proving this type of income damage based on the severity of your injury and the job market.
• Loss of Income Opportunities
  This portion of your claim encompasses elements such as the loss of bonuses, development of skills, networking, work experience, and other employment “perks” you lose because you are out of work. This can be a difficult element to calculate; however, financial and employment experts often provide the testimony and evidence needed to prove this type of lost wages.

Contact an Experienced Lost Wages Attorney

The personal injury attorneys of Tiemann Law Firm understand how important it is to maximize your lost wages claim in order to provide the compensation you and your family need. Call (916) 999-9000 or chat with a representative on our website to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced injury attorneys.