Can You Recover Lost Wages After An Injury?

Did you sustain injuries through no fault of your own? If so, you may receive compensation for damages, including lost wages, even if you are self-employed. According to the California Legislature, individuals are legally bound to abstain from injuring another person and infringing upon their rights.

Although a criminal act may result in injuries, personal injury cases are typically part of the civil court system.

Recovering lost wages

If your injuries happened due to someone else’s negligence, you might seek financial compensation for economic damages. This may include expenses related to medical care and lost wages or earnings. If your injuries require missing work long-term or permanently due to disability, compensation may cover your total losses.

Calculating lost wages

The unique details of your situation determine the precise amount you may recover. A broad range of factors contributes to the calculation of lost wages after an accident, such as the following:

• The scope of your injuries and how much work you miss after the accident
• The nature of your current work
• How consistent your earnings were before your accident
• Whether your injuries are temporary or permanent
• How long the injuries prevent you from working
• Whether you can perform other types of work during your recovery

You may consider any time away from work related to your injury as part of your lost wages claim. The time may include days in the hospital, doctor’s visits, physical therapy and the commute to and from appointments.

Keeping accurate, detailed notes of any missed work is critical for recovering those wages. If you spent days or weeks in the hospital, you might claim monetary damages for all the lost wages during that time. Doctor’s appointments may take half a workday or longer and PT sessions may occur several times a week.

Understanding your options is essential for recovering lost wages and protecting your rights.