If you are injured in a car accident while not at fault, your insurance company may offer to reimburse you for any lost wages while recovering from your injuries. However, this depends entirely on the type of car insurance you have and whether or not you filed the proper claim after your accident. Hiring an attorney will increase your odds of obtaining lost wages due to experience with insurance companies.
Lost Wages
Unfortunately, if you suffer an injury from a car accident, you may need time to recover, which can cost you money from loss of work. The term ‘lost wages’ refers to the amount of money you lose when you cannot work when you are recovering from your accident. These lost wages can include:
- Lost wages while suffering from a long-term injury from your accident
- Lost wages during your recovery period
- Missed job opportunities while recovering from your injuries
Insurance Coverage Needed To File a Claim
You will need these types of coverage to be able to collect your lost wages in an accident:
- Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage: If you are injured by an uninsured driver or a driver without substantial coverage. However, you will still be able to gather your lost wages if you are insured under this coverage.
- Liability bodily injury coverage: You can acquire lost wages by using at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability coverage if you were injured by another driver due to their negligence.
- Personal injury protection insurance: Even if you caused an accident, you can still collect lost wages on your own coverage
- Personal injury protection coverage: This type of coverage not only pays for your injuries but also your lost wages up to a set limit, no matter who is at fault.
Paperwork Needed To File Your Claim
If your insurance does cover lost wages, it is important that you gather all the pertinent paperwork before you file your claim. By having all of these documents, you can increase your likelihood of receiving your lost wages. Be sure you have:
- A letter from your doctor. This letter should provide detailed information on your injuries, treatment, prescriptions, and any medical bills. It should also state how long your injuries have kept you out of work. Additionally, your insurance company may provide a form that your physician will need to fill out as well.
- A copy of the police report.
- A letter from your employer. This letter should state that you had to miss work because of your injuries. If you are self-employed, do not work full time, or do not work in a salaried position, you might need to include a copy of your tax returns.
Exclusion of Work Loss
Check your insurance policy to see if there is a section labeled “Exclusion of Work Loss.” If this is the case, your insurance company will not pay for any lost wages. When you opened your insurance policy, you may have removed these benefits in order to spend less on your deductible. If you are not sure about what your insurance plan covers, talk to an insurance agent.
Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you are serious about getting back your lost wages after a vehicle accident, it would be in your best interest to hire a personal injury attorney. Car insurance companies will work with their team of lawyers to give you as little as they can. An attorney can help you to navigate through the whole process and get you the highest claim possible. Since they are experienced with this sort of case, they will be able to help you to recover your lost wages.
If you need help recovering lost wages, call us today in Arlington at (817) 522-4451, in Denton at (940) 222-4060 or in Dallas at (972) 362-6848 for a free consultation. You can also reach us via email by using our easy online contact form.
