Can I get reimbursed for lost wages if I am unable to work due to injuries sustained in the accident?

Can you get reimbursed for lost wages if you are unable to work due to injuries sustained in the accident? In a car accident, severe injuries may make it impossible for an injured person to work until they fully recover.

When recuperating from the sustained injuries, they may lose significant wages by missing work. These lost wages are damages caused by the accident. To ensure coverage, consider optional insurance from the best personal injury protection (PIP) car insurance company.

Getting Reimbursed for Lost Wages if You’re Unable to Work Due to Injuries Sustained in the Accident

In many accidents, more than one person may be at fault for causing the accident. For example, suppose you are driving at an excessive speed, and another car runs a red light causing an accident.

The driver running the red light is at fault; however, you may share part of the blame for the extent of the damages from driving too fast.

Evaluating who caused the accident often comes down to shared blame allocation by proportions, such as 70% of fault allocated to the other driver and 30% being your fault.

If lost wages are involved in the damage claim, the amount of your claim might be reduced by the amount you are at fault. You may only get 70% of your lost wages in this example.

Unless you have PIP insurance, which is no-fault insurance, you cannot claim lost wages if you caused the accident and are 100% at fault for causing it.

However, if another person is at fault, you could bring a claim against their bodily injury liability coverage or against them if they are uninsured or underinsured.

The Calculating Lost Wages You Need Reimbursed

Determining lost wages is usually based on your average weekly earnings over the past 12 months. This weekly amount is multiplied by the time you cannot work.

The length of time off from work is based on the written recommendation of a qualified doctor and progress made in rehabilitation. Lost wages are paid after covering the car insurance deductible.

Insurance Coverage for Loss of Future Wages

If the accident causes a permanent disability, you may be entitled to compensation for lost future earnings. Loss of future wages arises if you can no longer do the work you were qualified to do before the accident.

Read more: Best Car Insurance for Disabled Drivers

Personal Injury Lawsuit for Lost Wages and Other Damage

When there are injuries in a car accident, it is a challenge to prove who is at fault. A dispute over who caused the accident comes up frequently, which may lead to a lawsuit. Once you reach the insurance policy limits, the only way to recover more for your damages is to sue the person(s) who caused the accident.

Never accept blame for what happened. It is best to know how to correctly handle a car accident. Talk to a qualified attorney before you talk to an insurance adjuster.

Case Studies: Reimbursed for Lost Wages in Car Accident Cases

Case Study 1: Jane’s Accident

Jane was involved in a car accident where she sustained severe injuries that rendered her unable to work for several months. She had personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which allowed her to seek reimbursement for her lost wages during her recovery period.

With the support of her PIP coverage, Jane was able to receive compensation for the wages she couldn’t earn due to the accident.

Case Study 2: Mark’s Shared Fault

Mark was driving above the speed limit when another driver ran a red light and caused an accident. Although the other driver was primarily at fault, Mark’s speeding contributed to the extent of the damages.

As a result, when Mark claimed lost wages, his compensation was reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to him. In this case, he received only 70% of his lost wages due to his shared responsibility.

Case Study 3: Sarah’s Permanent Disability

Sarah was involved in a severe car accident that resulted in a permanent disability, making it impossible for her to continue working in her previous occupation.

Along with the reimbursement for her current lost wages, Sarah’s case involved claiming compensation for the future wages she would have earned if not for the accident. This aspect required a thorough evaluation of her earning potential and the impact of her disability on her ability to work.

Final Word on Getting Reimbursed for Lost Wages After an Accident

A qualified personal injury attorney will calculate and demand the lost wages when claiming against another party for the damages caused by an accident.