Income Recovery and Salaried vs. Hourly Workers
The physical pain and emotional toll of an accident injury are only part of the story. For many victims, the financial strain of missing work can also be devastating. Whether your injury happened in a car crash, a slip and fall, or another incident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover lost wages as part of your personal injury claim.
Proving financial losses requires careful documentation and a clear understanding of how income is calculated. A skilled Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer can guide you through the process, ensuring your compensation reflects the true impact of your injury on your livelihood.
What Are Lost Wages?
Lost wages refer to the income you were unable to earn between the time of your injury and the date you are medically cleared to return to work. This includes not only your base pay but also overtime, tips, bonuses, and commissions you would have reasonably earned if not for the accident.
To prove lost wages, you’ll typically need:
- Recent pay stubs or W-2 forms showing your income before the injury
- A letter from your employer verifying your position, pay rate, and missed work dates
- Medical documentation confirming your inability to work during your recovery
The way lost wages are calculated depends on how you are paid. Hourly employees can typically calculate their losses by multiplying their hourly wage by the number of hours missed. For example, if you earned $20 an hour and missed 100 hours of work, your base lost wage claim would be $2,000.
It’s different for salaried workers. Then, proving lost wages involves determining your daily or weekly rate. This is usually done by dividing your annual salary by 52 (for weekly pay). So, if you earn $78,000 a year and miss three weeks of work, your lost wages would be roughly $4,500.
Employees may need to show evidence of missed opportunities as well to ensure their losses are fully represented. This could include lost bonuses or commissions.
What About Future Earnings?
If your injury affects your ability to work long-term, you may also be entitled to compensation for lost future earning capacity. This type of loss considers how your injury will impact your income potential moving forward.
For instance, if a construction worker can no longer perform physically demanding tasks or a professional must reduce their hours due to chronic pain, future earnings may be significantly affected. Calculating these damages often requires expert testimony.
Whether you’re paid by the hour or on salary, your injury’s impact on your income deserves fair compensation. With the legal guidance of a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer, you can secure the recovery you need to move forward.
Is income loss while you are recovering from an accident causing your family financial strain? The attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez can make sure every dollar you’ve lost is accounted for following an accident in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Stuart, or Vero Beach. Call 561-660-9421 to schedule a confidential consultation.
