When you have sustained injuries because of another person’s negligence, whether through a car accident or other personal injury, you may find that you are no longer able to work. As such, it’s imperative to understand your legal options and how you can recover compensation not only for the medical bills you’ve incurred but wages you can no longer earn because of the injuries you endured. The following blog explores what you should know about how to recover future lost wages with the assistance of a Wesley Chapel, FL personal injury lawyer.
How Are Future Lost Wages Calculated?
It’s important to understand that calculating future wages can be challenging as there are many factors that can influence the outcome of the decision. This is because there are generally three outcomes:
- The eventual return to work
- Inability to ever return to work
- Ability to return to work in a reduced or different capacity
If you will eventually return to work, you’ll need to calculate how long it will take you to fully return to your duties and calculate how much money you would have received had you been working the whole time.
In the event you are unable to ever return to work, you’ll need to calculate when you would have been able to retire and how much money you would earn on an annual basis if you continued working until your retirement point.
Finally, if you will eventually return to work in a different role, you’ll need to determine your old salary compared to your new one. For example, if you must reduce your hours to work part-time as opposed to full-time because of your injuries, your salary will decrease. You must calculate the difference between how much money you earn to fight for damages, as you would not have had to earn less if the negligent party hadn’t caused your injuries.
How Do I Prove This?
It’s necessary to understand that proving future lost wages can be incredibly challenging, as there will likely be speculation regarding whether or not you will ever return to work. However, with the assistance of an experienced attorney and expert witnesses, you may be able to prove the extent of your injuries.
For example, you may rely on medical and vocational experts to provide testimony about the extent of your injuries, how it will impact your ability to work and what tasks you are capable of performing. Additionally, financial experts can help calculate the funds you deserve for any wages you will be unable to earn because of the accident.
As you can see, there are several considerations that the courts must evaluate before awarding an accident victim future lost wages. However, connecting with an experienced attorney from the Law Offices of Matthew J. Jowanna can help make this process easier. Connect with our team today to learn how we will fight for the compensation you deserve for the injuries you suffered at the hands of a negligent party. Contact us today to learn more.
