Whether injured in a car accident or you slip and fall on merchandise in a store, you may be unable to work due to your injuries. Not only is this frustrating, but it can also put you under extreme financial stress. Luckily, you may be able to recover lost income during your personal injury claim. If you’re pursuing a claim, understanding how to receive compensation for the economic damages you’re suffering is vital. Keep reading to learn more about your legal options and discover how an Ouachita Parish, Louisiana personal injury lawyer can help you receive compensation from the party responsible for your injuries.
What Constitutes Lost Income?
In relation to personal injury cases, lost income or wages occur when the injuries you sustained due to the negligence of another party prevent you from working. For example, if you work a manual labor job but brake your leg when a drunk driver collides with your car, you will be unable to work until your leg heals. However, those working manual labor jobs are not the only people impacted. Any head, neck, or spinal injury, as well as internal organ damage, can prevent almost every employee from being able to work for an extended period of time.
As a result, you will lose the income you need to live for a period of time until you have healed from the injuries. Unfortunately, in certain circumstances, you may sustain injuries that impact you for the rest of your life. This means you may have a permanent disability or chronic injury that prevents you from working.
You may be able to receive both past and future lost wages from the negligent party responsible for your injuries.
What Steps Can I Take to Prove That Injuries Are Preventing Me From Working?
When you sustain injuries that prevent you from working, you’ll need to take the necessary steps to prove the injuries you’ve endured are severe enough that you cannot work. Unfortunately, this is often easier said than done, as proving non-economic damages is significantly more difficult due to its abstract nature. Economic damages like medical bills or property damage are quantifiable, whereas non-economic damages rely on a number of factors to determine the awarded amount.
You’ll likely need to produce paystubs showing how much income you earn when you do work, wage verification letters from employers, and doctor’s notes detailing the extent of your injury and inability to work. However, this becomes more challenging when your injuries leave you hindered for the rest of your life, as you’ll need additional testimony from experts proving that the harm you’ve endured will leave you unable to work.
If you’re injured, we can help. Proving lost income without extensive legal knowledge and training can be an exceptionally difficult task. Luckily, at Breithaupt, DuBos, & Wolleson, we have the experience necessary to represent you during a personal injury claim. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
