If you were injured in a car wreck caused by another driver, you could be off for months or longer before you can return to work – if you can go back at all. Fortunately, you could be entitled to compensation for your lost wages from the negligent driver. You might think that once you convince the other driver’s insurance company that their driver caused the accident, they will pay you all the compensation you are entitled to. Think again. You must prove all your damages as well as liability in order to receive compensation. This includes proving your claim for lost wages.
Five Ways to Prove Your Lost Wages Claim to Get the Best Settlement
When you think of your lost wages, you should not just include the amount of your paycheck. Your lost wages claim could include much more. Other types of employment compensation include:
- Lost vacation and sick days
- Holidays and other bonus days off
- Missed promotions
- Bonuses you would have been entitled to
- Lost commissions
- Other perks, like a free company car
How do you prove the amount of your lost wages and these other types of compensation? Here are some documents that can help:
Doctor’s report.
You will need a letter from your doctor documenting your injuries, your diagnosis, your treatments, and how long you need to be off work. A longer, more detailed narrative report will help you maximize your settlement.
Employer letter.
You could also need a comprehensive letter from your employer. This should not only include the days you were absent from work and your wages during that time period, but also information on the overtime you had worked before your accident, any sick or vacation time you had to use, any bonuses you were entitled to, and any promotions you were being considered for.
Pay stubs.
You may need to provide copies of pay stubs, W-2s, or tax returns to show your income in the past.
Self–employment earnings.
While it can be more challenging to prove lost income if you are self-employed, you can establish this through financial statements and tax returns over the last few years. You can also provide correspondence or contracts with potential or future clients to show income you would have earned if you were not injured.
Expert testimony.
If you will lose substantial income from your self-employment, need to make a career change because of your injuries, or can no longer work, you may need a report from a forensic accountant or other expert to prove some of these less tangible aspects of your lost wages claim.
Have You Been Involved In A Henderson Or Las Vegas Car Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Henderson office directly at 702.405.6000 to schedule a free initial consultation.