When you are the victim of an auto accident, you face many losses. These can include the loss of your vehicle and various losses associated with the injuries caused by the accident. An injury can cause you to lose use of a limb, the ability to go to work, the ability to keep your job at all, and the ability to take up future work opportunities.
In some cases, you can return to your job when your injuries heal, though you have still lost wages from the recovery period. In other cases, you might lose your job completely. In the worst cases, you won’t be able to work in the same industry or field ever again, or for the very worst case scenarios, you won’t be able to work at all.
While it may come as a small relief when your entire life is changed forever by an auto accident, it is worthwhile to know that you can recover compensation, not just for your property damage and medical expenses, but for your lost wages and even the loss of future income opportunities.
Having said that, you’ll need to know how to prove your losses and their value so that you can recover fair compensation for the full value of those losses. The following information will address the specific types of damages, associated with lost wages and lost earning potential, and how to prove that those damages exist, as well as how to prove their value.
Proving That You Have Lost Wages Due To Your Auto Accident Injuries
Many people face lost wages after a Georgia auto accident. Even mild injuries can result in time away from work. In most cases, your employer will understand your position and you will still have your job waiting for you when you recover. Of course, this is not always the case, and some people lose their jobs when they take time off work to recover from auto accident injuries. Others lose their jobs because their injuries are such that they can no longer perform the work.
If you are among the first group, which has had to take time off of work, but you are able to keep your job, then this is fortunate, though it does not help with the lost wages. To prove that you have lost wages and have those wages compensated by the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy, you will need to gather the appropriate evidence. this might include a letter from your employer, check stubs from past paychecks, and/or your recent tax returns. Your auto accident attorney will help you to calculate your usual income and what you have lost in wages.
Proving That You Will Face Future Wage Loss Due To Your Auto Accident Injuries
If you are among the especially unfortunate auto accident victims who have lost their jobs or are going to be out of work for an extended period of time, then you can also seek compensation for future wage loss. This is most common in professions that require physical labor that you may be unable to do for a long time – or forever – after an auto accident injury. You will need to have medical records as evidence to indicate that you are not capable of continuing in that profession or that your recovery is a lengthy process, possibly including physical rehabilitation. You may also require the testimony of expert witnesses to prove your case.
Proving The Loss of Future Income Opportunities Due To Your Auto Accident Injuries
Finally, if you face the loss of future income opportunities because of the physical or psychological impact of your auto accident injuries, you can recover compensation for this, too. Depending on your injuries, you may be unable to continue in your former line of work, unable to seek out new employment, unable to develop new skills, or unable to complete any kind of work at all. Thus, all of your potential to earn future income is lost. In such cases, all of your abilities and skills will be taken into account, as will all of your restrictions. Your medical documents and expert witness testimony can help to prove these losses.
A Georgia Auto Accident Attorney Can Help You To Prove Lost Wages and Income Potential
It is very easy to miss out on the compensation that you deserve if you trust in the auto insurance company to take care of everything. Many people mistakenly assume that the auto insurance claims adjuster is doing everything they can to accurately calculate their damages. In reality, the insurance company wants to save money, so they’ll try to get you to settle low. The best thing you can do to ensure that you recover all of the compensation that is owed to you for your property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, lost income potential, and more, is to contact an experienced Atlanta auto accident lawyer for advice and representation. Call the Law Office of John B. Jackson to schedule a free consultation, today.
