After you’re involved in a traffic collision, something you may want to hold the other party responsible for are your lost wages. As a part of your personal injury claim, you can also seek compensation for the wages you lost. Lost wages include the money you lost as a result of being unable to work in the past, currently and in the future.
It is important to your claim that you prove your lost wages. To prove how much you’ve lost, you should include documentation including:
- Paystubs showing how much you earn weekly, biweekly or annually. You can also provide W-2s or tax returns.
- A letter from your employer that confirms details, such as if or when you’ll be able to return to work.
- Doctors’ notes that describe your condition and detail if you are to remain off work or if you are cleared to return to your job.
To get compensation from an insurance company, you will likely need to take an independent medical exam, submit your own medical paperwork and complete an employment authorization form, so that your employer can freely speak with the insurance company about the potential for you to return to your former job.
When you collect these documents, your attorney will work closely with you to make sure that you fill out the appropriate forms and provide enough supporting evidence to the insurance agent. Once the information is given to the agent, you may receive a settlement offer. Your attorney can speak with you more about the offer you receive and if you would like to negotiate to get more out of your claim.
