When you are severely injured in an auto accident your injuries may prevent you from performing the duties of your job. If you are not at your job working, you may not be receiving a paycheck, due to the negligence of the other party involved in your auto accident. Even though you can’t be at work doesn’t mean that you need to give up on those wages. An experienced Texas personal injury attorney can assist you in reclaiming those lost wages.
Why You Need a Lawyer
Your first priority after an accident is to get well. The next thing you must do is hire an experienced Texas personal injury attorney. You should hire a lawyer before you report the accident to your insurance company. Doing so will ensure that you have all the information you need to get the compensation you are entitled to. Insurance companies are concerned about their profitability and will try to reduce and eliminate your claims.
The opposing insurance company will be difficult to deal with and will most likely make a low-dollar settlement offer. Your Texas personal injury attorney will be able to determine if the settlement is fair and also they will be able to maximize that settlement. If the money is enough to compensate you for the hospital bills you have incurred, the physical and psychological turmoil you’ve endured, and the wages and earnings you have lost, then your lawyer may advise you to take it. If this is not the case, then your lawyer will press the insurance company for more money to maximize your settlement.
The Impact of a Serious Car Crash
A serious auto accident can turn your life upside down in many ways. The weeks and months after the accident will be filled with painful surgical procedures to put you back together. You will then need to go through an extensive period of convalescence and physical therapy. One of the more disruptive consequences of an auto accident is the impact it has on your ability to work.
If you cannot work, you cannot earn money. And if you cannot earn money, you cannot pay your bills and care for your family. This is where the experience of a Texas personal injury attorney comes into play. They will be able to explain what you need to track on your end to properly show the insurance companies the amount you owe and also the amount you have lost.
Recovering Lost Wages
One of the primary tasks of your attorney is to recover the income you will lose as a result of your injury. If the insurance company does not offer you proper compensation, you will need to sue them. However, you may not be able to wait until you settle the case or receive a judgment. You may need money now.
There are ways to offset your financial losses until you receive the money you expect as a result of the lawsuit. If you have disability insurance, you may receive compensation to keep you afloat. It must be noted, however, that many such policies contain provisions that prevent them from making payments to individuals receiving payments from an auto insurance policy.
Personal injury protection insurance is another option. If you have it, then you can be compensated up to $2,500 for lost wages.
Getting a Just Settlement
You need not limit the damages you seek to recover to medical bills, and pain and suffering. If the injuries caused by the accident have cost you wages, your job, or your business, you can make a claim for them.
Your lost wages claim can contain many components. You can include lost bonuses or commissions you would have received. You can claim that your treatment for accident injuries caused you to miss opportunities for promotion and raises. If you were in a salaried position, your claim for lost wages will depend on your position in the company, your regular working hours, your salary, and the amount of time you were out of work. These must all be backed up by the company you worked for.
If you were self-employed, it is still possible to show the financial opportunities you missed because of the accident. If you maintain an electronic calendar, then you can show canceled or missed appointments and meetings. You can also present a record of your invoices or billing activity and show the sudden decline in your revenue after your injury. You can also submit your business’s income tax returns and annual earnings from previous years and compare them to the trend in your finances after the accident.
Your Texas personal injury lawyer will help you put together a convincing case for why the insurance company should compensate you for lost wages. If you or a loved one have lost wages due to an auto accident call one of our law offices today at any of our convenient locations and get a free consultation.
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