proving lost wages in personal injury case-min

How Are My Lost Wages Proven In a Mississippi Car Accident Case?

The lost wages component in a car accident claim is meant to compensate the injured victim for the money they would have potentially earned in the course of their job or business had they not been injured. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident and missed work as a result, you may be able to recover current and future lost wages, among other losses.

You should consult an experienced Mississippi car accident attorney who can calculate your maximum financial damages, gather the necessary evidence to prove the negligence of the liable parties, and negotiate strongly with the insurance company to recover the compensation you deserve.

Proving Lost Wages Following a Mississippi Car Crash

The easiest way of proving lost wages following a car accident is to submit your most recent paycheck before the injury. You may need to submit proof of what you normally would have earned if you are self-employed. For instance, you can submit your accounts receivable or invoices from the previous year during the same period.

With adequate proof, an experienced car accident attorney can help you recover lost tips and other non-salary benefits. It is a little more difficult to prove lost earning capacity. This is because you would need to estimate future earnings.

You may need to provide proof in the form of paychecks from before and after the injury. Unfortunately, insurance companies rarely ever make things this simple. You may need an economic or financial expert witness to determine a ballpark figure. This is the amount you would have earned if you were not injured in the car accident.

Evidence about your work habits, character traits, education, and any intentions to change careers may also be factored in. Matters usually become complicated when the disability is temporary. Your attorney may use testimony from doctors and other specialists to prove the length of your disability.

These are a few things you would need to provide to recover compensation for lost wages:

  • Documents proving that you could not work because of the injury. This can be through a doctor’s note detailing the extent and severity of the injuries. The note should also state the amount of time required to recover before resuming work.
  • Pay stubs, W-2 forms, and tax returns among other documents to prove your wages.
  • Documents that prove employment, such as a letter from your employer.

It’s time to call an attorney if the insurance company is not taking your claim seriously or you are struggling to compile all the proof required. The biggest litigation battle following a serious personal injury is not always about who was at fault, but the extent and nature of the injured person’s damages.

Proving Lost Income for Self-Employed

You will be considered self-employed if you are an independent contractor, sole proprietor, or freelancer. You may claim lost income in this case instead of lost wages. This refers to the amount of profits and earnings you would have made if you were not injured.

You would still need to submit proof to show the exact amount of earnings you would have received till the date of judgment or settlement if you had not been injured. Bank statements, profit and loss statements, invoices, 1099 forms, correspondence, and receipts are a few ways of showing lost income.

Factoring in Other Losses of Income

You may be able to claim future lost earning capacity and lost compensation. Personal injury attorneys often hire forensic economists to lay down the foundation of future income losses. Physical disability, age, employment history, skills, and education are a few other factors you should consider when determining the amount of future losses.

You can claim any lost time at work covered by vacation pay, sick leave, or any other form of PTO. Your vacation benefits are intended to be used as you deem fit. Being forced to use them to attend medical appointments or recover from your injuries makes it equivalent to lost income.

You should ensure that you don’t overlook any losses suffered while calculating the total amount of damages for a car accident claim. It can seem simple to determine lost wages, but it involves more than just adding up numbers.

You should not overlook any factors that may be added to your lost wages claim. A qualified car accident lawyer will be able to help you get fair compensation for your injuries.

Injured and Out of Work After a Car Accident in MS? Our Attorneys Can Get You the Rightful Financial Compensation from the Negligent Parties.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident that happened because of the fault of someone else, it is time to contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Gardner Law Firm. Our attorneys have successfully handled a large number of Mississippi car crashes and other injury cases over the years and helped the injured victims and their families recover maximum damages.

We will pursue justice and hold the negligent parties liable for your injuries and losses. To schedule your free case review with our lawyers, call us today at 228-436-6555 or contact us online.