Pennsylvania laws permit personal injury victims to file a claim to recover compensation for harm suffered in preventable accidents that result in injuries in Pennsylvania. 

The amount of money that an injured person recovers as compensation is damages. 

There are three types of personal injury damages available in Pennsylvania  – economic, non-economic, and punitive.

Personal injury victims, whether employed, self-employed, or business owners, have the right to recover compensation for time spent away from their work or business.

Missing work can make it hard to support your family. 

An experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyer will put their extensive experience, knowledge, and resources behind your case to help you recover fair and just compensation for injuries and other damages. 

According to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC),  people treated for nonfatal injuries in an emergency department lose an average of eleven days of work. 

What Are Lost Wages? 

Severe and catastrophic injuries often require months or even years of medical treatment, physical rehabilitation, therapy, and strict obedience to your doctor’s orders and medical treatment plan. 

Personal injury victims often have to miss work during recovery, leading to lost wages. In cases involving severe injuries, victims may never return to work altogether. 

Personal injuries can also result in decreased productivity, affecting workers,  employers, and the economy as a whole. 

Wages are a worker’s income or remuneration for services performed during a specific time.

Lost wages refer to the earnings and work benefits that a worker doesn’t receive between the date of the personal injury and court verdict or out-of-court settlement. 

Loss of future earnings is the specific amount of wages that a worker would have earned if they had been able to carry on working.

Assigning an appropriate value to these damages is not straightforward and requires the skill and knowledge of a seasoned attorney.

Evidence To Prove Lost Wages

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, one in a hundred workers in the country experienced nonfatal occupational injury or illness in the two years between January 2021 and December 2022.

Proving lost wages is often much more technical and intricate than other damages. You should not guess, speculate, or claim that you have lost wages. 

You require evidence to prove the extent of your lost wages. Such evidence includes: 

• Medical records confirming your injuries and prescribed treatment plan
• Tax returns 
• Doctors’ notes
• Payroll records
• Documentation from the employer supporting and confirming lost wages
• Pay stubs
• Proof of missed opportunities such as  bonuses, promotions, or overtime

During your time away from work, you may miss contributions to a healthcare insurance or retirement plan. An experienced personal injury lawyer will ensure you recover compensation for these missed contributions. Your attorney will also seek damages for missed overtime and bonus pay. 

Reputable personal injury lawyers will retain the services of an economist or a vocational expert who will analyze the relevant factors and apply their training, experience, and expertise to come up with an accurate number. 

Negotiations 

Insurance claims adjusters play a significant role in determining compensation for lost wages. These trained professionals will evaluate your claim by considering factors such as medical evidence, income records, and the extent and severity of your injuries. 

When negotiating settlements, a skilled lawyer will have all your documentation organized and will maintain a log of all communication and agreements between you and your employer. 

In addition to lost wages, your attorney will negotiate with insurers to seek compensation for future lost earnings, loss of future earning capacity, and loss of employment benefits. Input from experts from various fields can help prevent the tactics of insurers to minimize the value of your personal injury claim.

Contact A Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer

An accomplished injury lawyer understands the complexities involved in determining the value of damages. Such a legal professional will prove your lost wages by relying on but not limited to testimony and documents from your employer, friends and family, doctors, economists, life care planners, vocational rehabilitation experts, and economists.

If you or a loved one have suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence in Philadelphia, it’s in your best interest to contact a personal injury lawyer who can evaluate your case and determine your eligibility for lost wages and other types of compensation. 

Contact a personal injury lawyer near you to schedule a free consultation.