Can I Be Reimbursed For Lost Wages After a Car Accident?

Can I Be Reimbursed For Lost Wages After a Car Accident?

Car accident victims often have to miss time at work while they recover from their injuries. You might be wondering–can I be reimbursed for lost wages after a car accident? The answer is often yes.

At Allen Law Firm, P.A., our experienced Gainesville car accident lawyers can help you get the full amount you deserve. To learn more about how we can help, call our law offices to schedule a free consultation today.

Why Hire an Experienced Gainesville Personal Injury Lawyer for Help Getting Reimbursed for Lost Wages

Why Hire an Experienced Gainesville Personal Injury Lawyer for Help Getting Reimbursed for Lost Wages

Lost income can make your life even more difficult while you recover. Car accident victims are often put in a difficult position. You have to figure out how to pay your daily expenses on top of all of the expenses caused by the crash. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to get the insurance company to pay the full amount you deserve.

Our Gainesville personal injury attorneys at Allen Law Firm, P.A. have decades of experience helping clients through the insurance process. We’ll fight to make sure your legal rights are protected by:

  • Finding out what caused your accident
  • Identifying all available sources of compensation so that you get the maximum amount possible even once you’ve reached your own policy limits
  • Standing up for your rights when the insurance company challenges the amount of lost wages and benefits you deserve
  • Working with respected experts who can testify about the amount of work you’ll have to miss because of the accident

Even though Florida is a no-fault state, car accident victims often have an uphill battle when it comes to proving lost wages. Importantly, all insurance policies have a coverage limit. Once you’ve reached the cap, you’ll have to explore other options to be reimbursed for your lost wages.

Our lawyers know the legal system inside and out. If you’re out of work after a car accident, don’t let the responsible parties off the hook. Give us a call today and set up a free consultation with an experienced attorney who can help with your insurance claim.

Overview of Your Right to Be Reimbursed for Lost Wages After a Car Accident in Gainesville

Overview of Your Right to Be Reimbursed for Lost Wages After a Car Accident in Gainesville

After a car accident, you’re entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Non-economic damages include things like pain and suffering and emotional distress. Economic damages represent the amounts you’ve lost because of the accident.

Lost wages are classified as economic damages. Economic damages are supposed to make you whole after an accident. In other words, they provide you with money so that, from a financial position, it’s like the accident never happened. You’re entitled to compensation for past, present and future lost wages. Your insurance award can cover things like:

  • Wages
  • Income
  • Benefits
  • Overtime 
  • Any other employment-related losses sustained because of the accident

Car accident victims are often unable to wait for an insurance payout. You might have to dip into paid time off (PTO) or vacation/sick leave to get money now. If you’re forced to use vacation or PTO time because you can’t work due to the accident, you can be compensated for those losses. 

Self-employed accident victims also have the right to lost wage reimbursement.

These cases can be more complex–it’s important to call an experienced car accident attorney who can build a clear, strong case in your favor.

Protecting your rights can be a challenge. Our lawyers at Allen Law Firm, P.A. are up to the task. If you have any questions about your right to be reimbursed for lost wages after a car accident, don’t hesitate to call our law firm for a free consultation.

How Do I Establish My Right to Lost Wages After a Car Accident?

It’s important to be prepared for a challenge when you’re filing a claim for lost wages with the insurance company. The insurance company will do everything they can to limit their own liability.  Your right to lost wage reimbursement will depend on a few factors.

The nature and severity of your injuries, as well as your job description, will be important in determining whether you’re able to work. You’ll be required to prove two key elements:

  • The injury interfered with your ability to work
  • The amount of lost wage and income reimbursement you deserve

To recover lost wages from the insurance company, you’ll first have to submit a wage and salary verification form that was completed by your employer. The insurance company will provide you with this form. To establish your right to be reimbursed for lost wages, you’ll need to be prepared with:

  • Your employer’s detailed statement outlining your prior 13 weeks of wages, salary and all benefits
  • Additional documentation if you’re self-employed, including proof of cancelled contracts, tax returns, 1099s and relevant tax documents, etc.
  • Documentation from your doctor that confirms you’re unable to work because of the auto accident
  • Your medical records, which can be used to support your doctor’s testimony

The insurance company bases your right to be reimbursed for lost wages on the information provided by your employer. Information from your doctor and medical experts will be used to determine how long you’re entitled to disability payments.

Who is Responsible for Paying My Lost Wages?

You have a few options for recovering lost wages if an injury prevented you from working after a car accident. Identifying the responsible party requires determining how the accident happened and evaluating the extent of your injuries.

Your Car Insurance Company

Florida is a no-fault car insurance state. That means you first make a claim with your own insurance company regardless of who or what caused the accident. Florida law requires every driver to purchase personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.

PIP benefits in Florida include coverage for lost wages if you can’t work because you were hurt in a car accident.

However, Florida law only requires insurance to cover 60% of your lost income and lost earning capacity.

Those benefits are paid every two weeks. Parties entitled to lost wages under your own car insurance policy include:

  • You, as the named insured
  • Relatives who live in your household
  • Passengers in the vehicle
  • The person operating your vehicle
  • Others who are struck by your vehicle

Unfortunately, Florida law only requires drivers to carry $10,000 in coverage for both medical bills and lost wages. When the 60% limitation is factored in, you might have to look elsewhere to recover the full amount of your lost wages.

The At-Fault Driver

If you were seriously hurt, you’ll quickly find that your insurance coverage has been exhausted by medical bills alone. The at-fault party’s insurance company can be held responsible for the lost wages your policy didn’t cover.

The insurance policy won’t pay these benefits willingly. Sometimes it’s necessary to file a lawsuit

You’ll need an experienced lawyer to prove the driver was responsible for the accident. Our lawyers at Allen Law Firm, P.A. will conduct a detailed investigation into the crash. We’ll do everything we can to build a strong case to establish fault. 

Employers of Negligent Drivers

If the driver who caused your car crash was working at the time, an employer can be held liable for paying your damages. For example, truck accident cases are often caused by the truck driver, who is employed by a large trucking company. In these cases, the trucking company is usually responsible for compensating accident victims.

What Types of Injuries Can Give Me the Right to Recover Lost Wages After an Accident?

Any type of injury can interfere with your ability to work. Our lawyers can help you understand your right to lost wages after a motor vehicle accident if you have sustained:

Your injury doesn’t have to be permanent or catastrophic to prevent you from working. If you were hurt and want to understand your rights, just call for a free consultation to learn more.

Common auto accidents include:

Time is Limited to File Your Claim in Florida

Florida places strict time limits on personal injury claims and has recently adjusted its statute of limitations for personal injury cases. If your accident took place on 3/23/2023 or before, you have four years to file your claim. If your car crash happened after that date instead, you will have two years. If you miss this deadline, you’ll be barred from recovering compensation entirely. Our lawyers will make sure your claim is filed within the applicable timeline.

Give us a call today to learn more about what we can do to help in your injury case.

Wondering Whether You Can Be Reimbursed For Lost Wages After a Car Accident? Call Our Gainesville Car Accident Law Firm for Answers Today

“Can I be reimbursed for lost wages after a car accident” is one of the most common questions accident victims have. You don’t have to navigate the system alone to find out. At Allen Law Firm, P.A., our experienced Gainesville personal injury attorneys will fight to get the full compensation you deserve.

We offer a free consultation. Just give our offices a call to arrange a time to speak. We’ll listen to your story and go over your options for recovering fair compensation. 

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