The costs of a car crash for Florida victims can be even greater than they first appear. While your immediate injuries, medical treatment and even damage to property may be your first concern after a motor vehicle accident, the damages associated with the crash can linger on for months and even years to come. For example, you may face costly medical bills, rehab needs and other expenses after a collision. With those medical needs, however, you may also face a major change in circumstances, namely, lost wages.
Economic damages of a motor vehicle accident
Depending on the type of injury you suffered, you may need to miss work for several weeks or months. If your injury is severe enough or leads to a disability, you may even need to seek new employment if your previous job relied on intense physical labor.
Different types of lost wages
Lost wages refers to the income that you would have received if not for the motor vehicle accident, from the date of the incident until the date a settlement or judgment is reached. In order to be eligible for compensation for lost wages, you must be able to show that the accident caused your injuries that made you miss work. While lost compensation refers to the income and benefits that you did not receive due to your injuries, a different type of claim, for lost earning capacity, relates to disabilities caused by the crash.
Pursuing a claim for lost wages
In order to pursue compensation for lost wages, you may file with your insurance company or with the insurance policy of the at-fault driver. In some cases, you may need to file a lawsuit against the other driver, especially if their insurance company refuses to reach an adequate settlement.
When preparing a claim for lost wages, you may need substantial medical and employment documentation to prevail in your claim. However, a successful claim for lost wages can play a major role in recovering economically from the devastation caused by a collision.