Many victims injured in car accidents in Tennessee are forced to miss work as a result of their injuries. This can make a difficult situation that much worse since you might not have a regular flow of income at the time you need it most.
Fortunately, our lawyers can help you recover compensation for your lost wages by either filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit. Regardless of which option works best for your case, our firm can help you assess the full value of your damages and gather the evidence you will need to prove it. With your medical and employment records, we can ensure a claim is made for your past lost wages and future losses your injuries are likely to cause.
For a free assessment of your case, contact our Tennessee car accident lawyers at Howe Law today. You can reach us at (844) 876-4357.
How Do I Recover Lost Wages After a Car Accident in Tennessee?
After being injured in a car accident in Tennessee, you can pursue a wide array of compensation for your damages, with one of them being lost wages from time missed at work. However, “lost wage” damages refer to much more than just the income you missed out on because of your injuries. It also includes compensation for the time you will likely miss in the future and loss of future earning potential.
Lost wages are a regular part of most car accident claims and will usually be covered by the negligent driver’s car insurance. However, recovering lost wages in an at-fault insurance system can be challenging for victims unfamiliar with the process. It is critical to assess your damages accurately so you do not miss out on compensation for your lost income. You can also file a lawsuit against the negligent driver for lost wages. Our attorneys can guide your case every step of the way to recover the losses you have sustained professionally.
Tennessee’s Fault Insurance Rules
Tennessee is one of many states that uses a fault-based system for car insurance purposes. This means that victims can file a claim for damages, including their lost wages, against the at-fault driver’s car insurance. In order to recover compensation, you must provide the insurance company with evidence that the other driver caused the accident and records showing the value of your damages. Several documents could be used to prove your lost wages.
However, insurance might not be enough to fully compensate you for the income you have lost and will lose if you suffer severe injuries. Under these circumstances, filing a lawsuit is likely the best way to ensure you recover the wages you have lost because of your injuries. Regardless of which option you choose, it is critical to know what all can be claimed as lost wages in Tennessee.
Types of Lost Wages You Can Claim
Lost wages can typically be separated into two categories. The first is the type most people are familiar with: lost income for the money you did not receive because your injuries prevented you from returning to work. This includes time spent away during recovery and time you needed to take off to make doctors’ and lawyers’ appointments. Proving this kind of lost income is usually not too difficult since it can be done with pay stubs and other employment records.
The other category of lost wages victims can claim is commonly referred to as “loss of earning potential.” If a victim’s injuries prevent them from returning to work or they cannot continue to the same work in the capacity they could before being injured. Proving loss of future earning capacity can be difficult and often requires expert medical testimony to establish the permanence of the victim’s injuries and their impact on their employment. Our Murfreesboro personal injury lawyers can review your case to determine an accurate value for your lost wages.
How Do I Prove Lost Wages After a Car Accident in Tennessee?
Proving lost wages can be a straightforward affair if the car accident victim is a typical employee. In most cases, your pay stubs and records showing time off will be sufficient to prove your lost income damages. In addition, you will need to provide records showing your income loss since being injured and the wages you anticipate losing in the future.
Your medical records will also provide an important source of evidence when recovering lost wages. Your medical records will usually include doctors’ notes regarding your capacity to work and how your injuries will affect your job functions. There is no set list of what evidence can be used to prove lost wages, but our Knoxville car accident lawyers can help ensure that any evidence supporting your lost wages claim is gathered.
Can I Recover Compensation for Future Lost Earning Capacity After a Car Accident in Tennessee?
If your injuries prevent you from returning to the same work you did before being injured or from returning completely, you will likely have a valid claim for loss of future earning capacity. Lost future earning capacity is typically shown by comparing what you are currently making with your income prior to being injured. If the work you are doing now because of your injuries pays you less than what you used to earn, you are entitled to recover the difference.
In most cases, though, you will need experts to review your case and potentially testify as to how your injuries will impact your future employment. Loss of future earnings can be measured in not only lost income, but the loss of more intangible things, like promotions and raises your injuries might prevent you from receiving.
It is important to understand that you can claim these damages even if you are currently working. Oftentimes, chronic pain from old injuries can be enough to significantly affect the type of you do and the income you make. Our lawyers can assess your potential lost future earnings and obtain any experts necessary to prove your damages.
Our Tennessee Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured in a car accident, call our Nashville car accident lawyers at Howe Law for help with your case today. Contact us at (844) 876-4357 for a free case review.
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