Loss of Wages After an Auto Accident
If you have been injured in an auto accident, it is possible that you have had to miss work due to your injury. This can put you in an incredibly difficult situation, especially with piling up medical expenses. It is possible to recover a loss of wages after an auto accident if you follow the right steps. Working with our experts at Utah Accident Solutions can help you to ensure that you receive all of the appropriate compensation after you have been in an auto accident and get your life back on track as easily as possible. This is especially important if you have been injured in the accident. Here are a few things that you should know about recovering loss of wages after being in an auto accident.
What are Loss of Wages Claims?
Loss of wages claims are used to help cover the loss of money that you would otherwise have earned if you hadn’t been injured during the auto accident. There are many forms that this can take because there are many ways in which an auto accident injury can impact your working life. For example, breaking a leg in an auto accident can prevent you from working in an active industry for months. Depending on your job, even minor injuries can lead to serious financial difficulties. Understanding how to recover loss of wages can help you to prevent yourself from getting in a difficult financial situation following your auto accident. It may be useful to work with an attorney for assistance when you are pursuing compensation for your lost wages.
What Loss of Wages Compensation May Include
As previously mentioned, there are many forms that loss of wages compensation and claims can take. For example, this compensation may include lost wages for the amount of time that you didn’t work due to your injury. It may also include the lost earning capacity that you experience if you have suffered a long-term disability. If this disability prevents you from making as much money as you were previously earning, you will likely be able to obtain compensation for the earning capacity. Lost opportunities, such as missing a job interview due to your injury, may also be included in loss of wages compensation, though exact numbers can be more difficult to pin down for these particular situations.
Coverage that can Help you Recover Lost Wages
There are a few options for coverage that will help you recover lost wages, though the exact requirements will differ depending on the situation and the state. Liability bodily injury coverage will help you to recover lost wages if another person injured you and has this liability coverage. Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage will help you recover lost wages if you were injured in an accident by a driver without insurance. Personal injury protection (also called PIP) can help you to receive compensation for lost wages, as well. PIP coverage may be required in certain states to help provide protection for residents. Liability coverage is a general requirement for drivers in most states. Pay careful attention to your own insurance coverage to ensure that you will be protected if you experience an auto accident.
See a Medical Professional
One of the most important things to do after your auto accident is visit a medical professional. This visit will help you to obtain documentation for your claim, as well as aid in getting the appropriate treatment to help you heal after the accident. There are several injuries that may occur during an auto accident that can have a delayed onset. By visiting your medical professional, you will be able to receive thorough, appropriate treatment to restore your health. This is also important in explaining your injury to your workplace to ensure you can take the appropriate action.
Document your Claim
In order to recover loss of wages, it is often beneficial to spend some time documenting your claim. This documentation can substantially simplify your compensation process. It is useful to ask your physician for a letter outlining your injury and the restrictions that the injury imposes on your work. Keep documentation regarding your treatment, prescriptions, and medical expenses. You may also want to get a letter from your employer, where they outline the parts of your job that you will be unable to accomplish due to your injury. Finally, a copy of the police report is often essential to prove fault in the claim, because loss of wages recovery usually requires you to have not been at fault in the accident.
May Even Get Compensation for Benefits
Just because you are being paid for your time away from work doesn’t mean that you can’t pursue compensation. If you have used vacation time or sick leave to ensure a steady income while you are away from work, you may still be able to request compensation for the paid benefits that you were forced to use. Logically, you wouldn’t have used the benefits if you hadn’t been injured by the other party in the accident. Your benefits are intended for your vacation time or unexpected illnesses, not for injuries from auto accidents. By getting compensation for these benefits, you can ensure that you receive all of the benefits that you are entitled to, despite being injured in the accident.
Loss of wages can be incredibly devastating after you have been in an auto accident. If you have been injured in an accident, it is essential to ensure that you work with an expert to receive all of the compensation that you are entitled to. Our experts at Utah Accident Solutions can help to handle all of the difficult work, so that you can focus on your recovery. If you have had to miss work due to your injury, it is important to navigate the process of recovering your lost wages. For more information about the best way to approach recovering lost wages, contact our team at Utah Accident Solutions today!
