If you were injured at work, you may be wondering what kind of compensation you can get. One of your biggest concerns may be getting compensated for your missed wages. Working with a qualified work injury lawyer and knowing what can be part of your settlement will help you recover your lost wages.
Ask Work Injury Lawyer: Can I Claim Lost Wages as Part of My Settlement?
What Is Recoverable?
In most personal injury cases, it's possible to be compensated for missed wages. This includes wages that you lost because you were unable to work due to your injuries as well as time missed while you were undergoing treatment for your injuries.
You can seek this reimbursement whether your job was full-time or part-time. You can also get compensation regardless of whether you have an hourly wage or you are a salaried employee. Freelance workers can also be compensated.
Documenting Your Lost Wages
You can be compensated for wages you've missed because of your injury. However, you will need to document and prove that you lost wages and indicate the amount that you've lost to get this compensation.
There are a few pieces of evidence you can use for this. For example, you can bring paystubs from before your injury as well as doctor's notes that outline the injuries you have. If you have any other kinds of correspondence that demonstrate missed opportunities or wages, those will also be important.
Calculating Your Lost Wages
It's impossible to say what amount you will be given as compensation since every case and situation is different. Your total compensation will need to be calculated based on a few factors. First, the nature and extent of your injuries along with your earning capabilities before your accident will influence your compensation.
Your compensation will also be calculated based on your previous weekly work hours, your gross income, the amount of time that you missed due to your accident and injuries, and the position you held in the company. If at the time of your injury you were seeking a raise or a promotion and were not able to get it because you were hurt, this should be noted.
What About Lost Opportunities?
It's much more difficult to prove something like losing a potential job because your injury prevented you from going to an interview. But you may still be able to get some form of compensation for situations like this.
There may not be a specific dollar amount you can show that you lost, but if the insurance adjuster sees that there was the potential for you to gain this opportunity before your injury, you may still be able to increase the amount of compensation you receive.
What Do I Do When Seeking Compensation?
Hire a Lawyer
One of the first things you need to do after an accident is get in touch with a lawyer. You don't have the same kind of training and experience that your lawyer does, and this experience is going to be crucial when seeking a settlement.
Your lawyer will know what steps to follow to help you get the compensation you need as well as what strategies to implement. Your lawyer will also know from experience what kind of compensation you can expect from your case, so you'll have realistic expectations.
Don't Speak to Insurance Companies
If you were injured because of someone else negligence on the job, the other party's insurance company may try to reach out to you early on. You should avoid speaking to these representatives and direct them to contact your lawyer instead.
Insurance companies are not your friends. They are going to try and pay you as little as possible. They also know that, unlike your work accident injury lawyers in Houston, TX, you're not trained in the law, and they may try to use this against you. It's best to avoid communicating with them directly.
Take Care of Yourself
Dealing with an injury is a difficult thing. If you were hurt on the job, you need to make sure that you are taking the time to treat it right and allow it to heal. As stressful and distracting as your legal battle may be, don't forget to look after yourself.
This also includes taking care of your emotional state. Accidents can cause more than just physical damage. If you are feeling depressed, anxious, or you are having flashbacks about your accident, you may have PTSD. You should speak to a mental health professional and get the support you need.
You deserve to be fairly compensated for your accident. This includes any wages that you might have lost because of your injury. When seeking compensation, you should make sure you have a lawyer on your side. Your lawyer will fight for your rights and get the settlement you deserve.
