Can I Be Reimbursed for Lost Wages After a Car Accident?

In 2020, motor vehicle crashes were the second leading cause of ER visits in Georgia. Collisions can leave you battling injuries, property damage, and other significant losses. That’s why hiring car accident lawyers to represent you is vital if the accident occurred because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions. 

One of the questions you may be asking yourself is, “Can I be reimbursed for lost wages after a car accident?” The short answer is yes. At Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys, we can help answer all of your questions and assist you in filing a claim to get fair compensation. 

Contact our law offices in Lawrenceville, GA, today for a free consultation. Call us at 678-446-3655 for more information.

How Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help You Get Compensation After a Crash in Lawrenceville, Georgia

How Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help You Get Compensation After a Crash in Lawrenceville, Georgia

A car accident can result in significant losses, including the inability to go to work. This can lead you to miss out on the wages you would have otherwise made. 

If someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions caused the accident, you have a chance to recover losses by hiring a Lawrenceville, Georgia, personal injury lawyer to represent you. At Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys, our team offers a number of services, including:

  • Assessing your claim during a free consultation
  • Gathering evidence to prove what you’re claiming
  • Negotiating with insurers to win you a settlement 
  • Filing a lawsuit if negotiations fail
  • Advocating for you in court

Our Lawrenceville car accident lawyer has 18 years of experience helping people recover damages after suffering injuries in car accidents. Call us today to schedule your free case review.

Lost Wages: Types of Losses That Can Be Reimbursed

Suffering injuries after an accident means needing to take time off from work to get treatment and heal. However, doing so will likely require you to lose wages, which could have significant financial repercussions. You can claim these wages as part of your economic damages

You can claim your regular earnings, which compensate you for the hourly rate you would have received if the accident hadn’t occurred, and unique earnings. Unique earnings encompass benefits, such as any stipends you would have received for transportation, as well as cell phones and even stock options. 

If you regularly worked overtime, you could also claim these hours as part of your lost wages. Seasonal overtime pay can be an option as well if your job normally offers these during the period in which you suffered the accident. 

Commissions and overtime are viewed as components of lost wages. If you would have earned them had the accident not happened, you can claim them. Alternatively, perhaps you were on track to receive a raise or be promoted but lost the opportunity due to your lengthy recovery. In such instances, you may be able to claim this extra income as a loss. 

To be able to get the compensation you deserve, you must demonstrate what you would have earned if it hadn’t been for the accident. To do this, you need to first gather the paychecks you received in the months leading up to the collision. Second, locate any doctor’s notes showing your treatment plan and proving your inability to work during the healing process. 

Any evidence you might have to demonstrate that you consistently received bonuses and took on regular commissions can help. Even correspondence from your employer stating the quality of your work is important. 

If you have life-altering injuries like spinal cord or brain injuries that won’t allow you to return to work, you can claim loss of earning capacity. To do this, your lawyer will usually employ economists to provide an accurate idea of what you would have made throughout your working life.  

What Other Compensation Can You Claim After a Car Accident? 

After a car accident, you can claim compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are those that, as the name implies, compensate you for the losses you’ve suffered. Economic and non-economic damages are compensatory, and they focus on letting you recover the financial losses the accident led to, as well as more subjective losses. 

Medical expenses make up a significant part of your damages award. You can get compensated for hospital bills, ambulance fees, medication costs, and even rehabilitation services that you may need. 

If you’ve suffered catastrophic injuries, you can get coverage for ongoing care that you will require in the future. Medical expenses also cover any changes you need to make to your home or car to accommodate a disability that resulted from the accident. 

Non-economic damages compensate you for non-financial losses, including loss of enjoyment of life and pain and suffering. If a loved one suffered disabling injuries or died in the accident, you can also claim loss of consortium

Punitive damages punish the defendant. They’re only awarded when the person acted in a malicious or egregious manner

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Our Experienced Lawrenceville Car Accident Lawyer

After suffering losses in a car accident, you have the chance to seek compensation. Contact us at Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free consultation with our trusted Lawrenceville car accident lawyer.