Recovering Lost Wages and Future Income Potential After a Georgia Auto Accident

If you’ve been in a Georgia auto accident, you have probably discovered what your vehicle was worth, whether it can be repaired or replaced, and at what cost. You’ve probably also assessed your physical injuries and have a general idea of what it’s going to take to recover and how much treatment you’re going to need. However, if those injuries keep you from working during the course of your recovery or if they keep you from ever returning to your former occupation, then you may be struggling to evaluate what your lost wages and future earning potential are worth to the at-fault driver’s insurance company or in a court of law. The following information will help you to get a better understanding of how your wage and opportunity losses are valued and compensated and what you can do to recover those losses.

Actual Wage Loss in the Present

If you are unable to work for a period of time due to hospitalization, rehabilitation, or medical restrictions after a Georgia auto accident, then you have immediate wage loss to contend with. Fortunately, these losses can be compensated by the at-fault driver’s insurance company, if you can provide evidence of the missed work days, evidence the cause of the time off work, and evidence of your usual weekly wages.

In some cases, providing evidence of your usual wages can be as simple as pulling out your most recent check stubs or tax forms or requesting the wage evidence from your employer. In other cases, it can be more difficult, such as if you are a business owner yourself or if you are an independent contractor. In such a case, you may be able to use your taxes or work with your Georgia auto accident attorney to estimate your usual income.

Lost Wages and Income Potential in the Future

Many victims of auto accidents don’t realize that they can also seek compensation for their lost wages and income potential in the future. If your injuries resulted in long term disability and/or prevent you from ever returning to your previous employment, then you can seek this compensation as well. This is most common in situations where your work required physical activities that your injuries prevent you from being able to perform. Proving these losses can be more challenging, and may require evidence from medical professionals and other experts.

Could a Georgia Auto Accident Attorney Help You?

If you are hoping to recover compensation for your lost wages and lost future income potential after an auto accident, then a Georgia auto accident attorney like those at The Law Office of John B. Jackson could make all the difference in proving your losses and establishing liability. Far too often, the insurance company of the at-fault driver will try to deny liability or minimize the value of your claim for damages. They may not even offer to cover your lost wages and could be especially unwilling to consider the loss of your future earning potential. This is where an experienced auto accident attorney comes in to manage insurance company negotiations and build a strong case for the damages that you need and deserve compensation for.

How to Find an Auto Accident Attorney in Georgia

There are many ways to find a good auto accident attorney in Georgia. You can do a quick search online for attorneys in your area, read their profiles and testimonials, and/or seek referrals from your friends, family, and associates. There are many options to consider, and you’ll want to narrow it down to just a few, who specialize and are experienced in Georgia auto accident claims, and who offer free consultations. Then, you’ll want to take advantage of those free consultations to learn more, ask questions, and find the best attorney for your case.

Questions to Ask During a Consultation

It’s important to be prepared for your initial consultation with a Georgia auto accident attorney. You don’t want to waste your time by failing to get the information that you need to compare your options and choose the best attorney for your auto accident case. You should bring with you any evidence and documents that you have so that the attorney can work on evaluating the merits and value of your claim. You’ll also want to be ready to ask some questions.

Following are some of the questions that will help you to compare the different attorneys that you meet with for a free consultation of your claim:

• Do you specialize in handling Georgia auto accident claims?
• Do you have experience with claims that are similar to mine?
• Will any other attorneys work with you on my case?
• Do you offer a contingency fee payment arrangement?
• What can I do to strengthen my case?
• What is your response time to phone calls from clients?
• Have you taken cases like mine to trial?
• Have you ever received any disciplinary actions?

These are just a few example questions to help you get started. If you have any other questions, you should write them down and feel free to ask during the consultation. You can also use the free consultation to get a feel for the lawyer’s personality and whether or not you are likely to get along during the course of pursuing your auto accident claim. If you’re looking for a great place to start, call the skilled auto accident attorneys in Georgia at The Law Office of John B. Jackson for your first free consultation.