Being involved in an accident is never fun, and sustaining an injury that prevents you from working can cause overwhelming financial and emotional distress. Medical bills could start piling up while paychecks stop coming in, leaving you unsure how you will support yourself and your family. If you can’t work due to an injury, it is crucial that you explore all options for compensation. Continue reading for more information and speak with a knowledgeable New York injury lawyer for skilled advice and representation.
What Are Lost Wages?
Lost wages are a type of economic damage that individuals can sustain in an accident. Broadly, it refers to the money you miss out on when you cannot physically work because you are recovering from an injury.
Lost wages include not only your base pay, like your salary, but also overtime, commission, bonuses, tips, sick days, and vacation time used while you are recovering from your injury. If your accident prevents you from returning to your old job or earning at the same rate you previously did, you can also make a claim for a diminished earning capacity or loss of future earning potential.
What Are My Options if I Can’t Work Due to an Injury?
If you can’t work due to your injury, don’t panic. While it may be stressful having no money coming in, you have several options to obtain compensation for the income you are missing out on. Consider the following.
- PIP claim: New York is a no-fault accident state, meaning that after an auto accident, all drivers must file a claim with their own Personal Injury Protection coverage for injury-related expenses. This includes lost wages. If you cannot work due to an injury sustained in a car accident, you can file a claim with your own provider for compensation.
- Personal injury claim: If another party’s negligence caused your accident and injury and your own insurance does not cover the entirety of your expenses, you could file a claim against their liability insurance to recover compensation for your lost wages, medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, and more.
- Personal injury lawsuit: If a personal injury claim does not yield a successful settlement agreement, you could file a lawsuit against the at-fault party in an attempt to be awarded the same damages by a jury or judge.
- Workers’ compensation: If your injury occured while at work or because of your job, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation, a form of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees who are injured or become ill due to the duties of their job.
- Disability benefits: If your injury prevents you from working temporarily or permanently, you may qualify for short-term disability benefits through the state or federal agencies if your condition is long-term.
To learn more about how you can recover compensation for your lost wages, reach out to a skilled personal injury attorney today.
