How to Prove Lost Wages After a Car Crash

After a car accident, you may suffer catastrophic injuries. You may be disabled and unable to work for an extended period of time or perhaps never again. If someone caused you to suffer these injuries, they’re on the hook for paying you for these damages.

Not being able to work for any amount of time results in lost income. If this has happened to you, you will want to prove lost wages after a car crash. “Lost wages” refers to the money you would have earned had you not been injured. The lost wages start from the date of the accident to the date of settlement or judgment.

To receive lost income, you must prove that the injuries that caused you to be out of work were directly related to the accident and not any other event.

Proving Lost Wages 

Here are some documents that can help prove how much income you lost:

• Payslips or pay stubs. These are the most common ways to prove income. Employees get these upon payment. They serve as detailed proof of earnings, deductions, and net pay over a specific pay period.
• Tax returns. These are tax documents filed annually, providing an overview of income earned, deductions, and taxable income. Most employees receive W-2s, while freelancers may receive 1099 forms.
• Bank statements. These are statements from bank accounts showing regular deposits, which can prove a consistent income stream.
• Employment verification letter. This is a formal letter from an employer confirming details about a person’s employment status, including salary, position, and possibly length of time.
• Profit and loss statements. Those who are self-employed do not receive paystubs or other documents from companies. Small business owners may need to use profit and loss statements to prove their income. These documents detail business revenue and expenses.

Use of PTO 

If you used paid time off (PTO) after your accident, it could affect your claim for lost wages. PTO includes sick days, vacation days, and other time off that your company offers that you used after your accident because you were unable to work.

If you used PTO, you could include it in your personal injury case because you’re claiming that the accident forced you to use these benefits when you didn’t want to, and you should be compensated for them. Your attorney can tell you how to calculate the value of these days and include them in your claim. Be prepared to provide documentation showing the deduction of these days from your account.

 Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer 

After a car accident, you need to make sure you get all the compensation you are entitled to receive. This includes lost earnings, current and future.

Making a lost wages claim can involve complicated legal issues with your medical condition.

A Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC can assist you with your claim so you get the most money possible. To schedule a consultation, call 281-347-3247 or fill out the online form.

Source:

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