Some people get into car accidents that only cause minor injuries. Other people aren’t as lucky, and end up with serious injuries. If you’re among those who have sustained major injuries after a car crash, you may wonder what to do if you’re unable to work.
Most people joke about not wanting to go to work, but for car accident injury victims, it’s no laughing matter. When your injuries prevent you from working, you won’t be able to earn a living, all while you have bills piling up. In addition to those bills, you’ll be incurring additional expenses as a result of this accident. You’ll have hospital bills, physical therapy, medications, costs associated with making your home more accessible to meet your new needs, plus more. All of these will add up while you have no source of income.
Those hurt in car accidents should contact a personal injury attorney to get valuable legal advice on what to do. The negative impacts from your accident likely mean you have many questions about your rights and what steps you should take.
How Can You Get Compensation for Your Lost Wages After a Car Accident?
When you are injured in a car accident to the point that you can’t work in the short or long term, your insurance company may provide your lost wages. This will all depend on the kind of injury you’ve suffered and your auto insurance policy.
Here’s what could happen in this situation:
Lost Wages
Your insurance company may be able to cover your compensation for the total amount of time that you’re not able to work after the accident. For example, you may have shattered your pelvis in the crash and the doctors have stated that you can’t return to work for at least 6 months. This would potentially mean that you could be compensated for the amount you would have earned in that time if someone hadn’t crashed into your vehicle.
Lost Earning Capacity
Those who sustain more severe injuries that lead to a long-term disability may also receive compensation for lost earning capacity. This relates to the money you lose because your injuries prevent you from working. Often, this is what happens when someone must endure an amputation after a catastrophic crash. While they will eventually recover, the loss of a limb may prevent them from performing their job in their usual capacity, meaning they wouldn’t be able to earn as much.
Missed Job Opportunities and Promotions
In some cases, it may even be possible to collect compensation if you lost a job opportunity or promotion because of the accident. This is a situation faced by independent contractors after being injured in a car crash.
Steps to Take When You Can’t Work After a Car Accident
Even with insurance coverage, it may be difficult to recover the compensation you deserve. If you miss work because of injuries from an accident that someone else caused, the next step is to contact a Boca Raton auto accident attorney who can fight for what’s fair.
You shouldn’t have to sink into a pit of debt and suffer from painful injuries because of another driver’s careless actions. Unfortunately, many injury victims don’t realize that they can seek compensation in these situations.
If your insurance coverage won’t cover the costs or makes unnecessary delays, you shouldn’t proceed without an attorney. You’ll then be able to rest and recover while they work on recovering compensation on your behalf.
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