What Are Lost Wages in an Injury Claim?

Lost wages in an injury claim refer to the compensation and benefits that you lose if you can’t work due to injuries caused by someone else. They can also account for your diminished earning capacity if these injuries keep you from earning at the same level you did before you got hurt.

A Lexington personal injury lawyer can teach you about lost wages. They can help you calculate your loss of income and file an injury claim designed to prove why you deserve these economic damages.

Lost Wages in an Injury Claim Can Serve You Well Now and in the Future

In an injury claim, you can ask for lost wages from the date that you were hurt due to someone else’s actions until you recover fully from your injuries. Or, if you are dealing with a disability that will affect you indefinitely, you could pursue damages for your current and future lost wages.

Loss of income damages can include your base pay, along with bonuses, commissions, and other benefits that you’ve lost because you were injured. If your injuries will prevent you from returning to the same type of work you did in the past, you could have a case for lost wages based on your diminished earning capacity.

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How to Calculate Your Lost Wages in an Injury Claim

If you’re an hourly employee, you can calculate your lost wages in your injury claim by multiplying your regular pay rate by the total number of hours or days of work that you miss because of your injuries.

Comparatively, if you are a salaried employee, you can determine your lost wages by taking your yearly income and dividing it by 260 (the number of working days in a year). This will give you a figure equivalent to the number you would get if you were an hourly worker who multiplied their standard pay rate by the total number of hours or days that they miss work due to injury.

If you’re a self-employed or gig worker, use your tax returns and invoices to verify your income. From here, you can establish a regular income pattern to figure out your lost wages in your injury claim.

Account for any sick time that you’ve accrued in your claim. For instance, if you used five sick days at work to recover from your injuries, ask for damages for them.

Don’t go through the claims process alone. Otherwise, you risk missing out on opportunities to get money for your lost wages and other injury-related losses.

Hire a personal injury lawyer before you file your claim. Your attorney can analyze your lost wages in conjunction with your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other economic and non-economic damages. By doing so, they can help you maximize the value of your claim.

What to Do to Prove You Deserve Lost Wages in Your Injury Claim

Utilize your pay stubs, tax returns, medical records, and other proof to show that you should receive loss of income damages in your injury claim. Your evidence can make it tough for a liable party or their insurance company to dispute your compensation request.

Partner with personal injury or auto accident lawyers in Lexington on your side as you go through the claims process. Your attorney can negotiate a claim settlement on your behalf that encompasses your lost wages and other losses relating to your injuries. Contact us at (859) 268-4300 for a free consultation.