Posted on Friday, April 22nd, 2016 at 8:58 pm    

CALCULATING AND PROVING LOST WAGES IN AN ACCIDENT CLAIM

There are many types of damages that result from a Sacramento accident claim. When you are in a motor vehicle accident, bicycle crash, slip and fall accident, or commercial truck accident, you suffer physical and emotional injuries. You also suffer several different types of financial damages. Medical bills are one of the most common types of financial damages incurred in an accident case. The second most common type of financial damage in an accident case is lost wages, income, and opportunities.

If you plan to claim loss of income in your accident claim, you need a skilled and experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer to help you calculate and prove your claim. The experienced injury attorneys of Tiemann Law Firm understand the types of evidence required to prove your loss of income claim. We will work with you to obtain the documentation needed to maximize your compensation for lost wages, income, and opportunities.

Proving and Calculating Loss of Income in a Personal Injury Case

When you are calculating lost wages for a personal injury claim, you must consider more than just actual lost income from your time in the hospital and recuperating at home. There are several elements involved in calculating a comprehensive loss of income claim.

  • Actual Lost Wages
    The first element of a loss of income claim is your actual lost pay. This represents the total income you have lost while out of work due to the accident. You must present evidence proving your lost wages. Often we use past pay advices to establish your average wages. The average daily wage is multiplied by the number of days you missed from work to calculate your lost wages.
  • Future Lost Wages
    In some cases, we may settle your claim even though you have not returned to work. If you have a permanent disability and you will be unable to return to work, you have a claim for future lost wages. We may be able to use your past pay history to estimate your future lost wages; however, we typically need an expert to calculate your future lost wages based on your age, past income, rate of inflation, and other factors. Our attorneys have worked with a number of experts in preparing future lost wages claims.
  • Loss of Earning Capacity
    This may be relevant to your claim if you are able to return to work but you are unable to earn the same income as before the accident because of your injuries. You are entitled to receive the difference between what you could have earned and what you will actually earn. Experts also aid in proving this type of income damage based on the severity of your injury and the job market.
  • Loss of Income Opportunities
    This portion of your claim encompasses elements such as the loss of bonuses, development of skills, networking, work experience, and other employment “perks” you lose because you are out of work. This can be a difficult element to calculate; however, financial and employment experts often provide the testimony and evidence needed to prove this type of lost wages.

Contact an Experienced Lost Wages Attorney

The personal injury attorneys of Tiemann Law Firm understand how important it is to maximize your lost wages claim in order to provide the compensation you and your family need. Call (916) 999-9000 or chat with a representative on our website to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced injury attorneys.

Client Testimonials

Hanna Padilla Testimonial
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From the very start of my case the Tiemann Law Firm was wonderful. Perter came all the way to my home to sit down and talk to me about my options. He made me and my partner feel very comfortable and promised us he would take the very best care of my case. Peter kept me informed every step of the way and was always on top of things. everything was done in a timely manor and I always felt like I was the only case he was working on because he was so fast. In the end Peter got me back way more money than I ever expected. I would recommend this law firm to everyone. I am very happy with the outcome of my case thanks to the Tiemann Law Firm! Thank you!

Matt H. Testimonial
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I was in a car accident a while back where I was injured and had to miss work for an extended period of time.  After nearly a year of fighting with the insurance company with no results and no progress, I met with Jelena Tiemann.  I couldn't have asked for a more responsive and supportive advocate.  We quickly reached a settlement and I finally was able to move from the stress and burden of feuding with my insurance.  I highly recommending meeting with Jelena if you're in need of a lawyer.

Star Fire Testimonial
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It is hard to put into words the care and dedication that I received from the Tiemann’s. They have been here for me every step of the way and were always available when I had questions or concerns. My husband and I will be forever grateful for everything they have done for us and our family. Thank you so much for all of the hard work and time you have put into my case, we greatly appreciate it and your friendship. We highly recommend this firm and will always be thankful for everything they have done. Thank you so much again, Kim

Lendzey Garcia
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I was in a very bad/ major car accident I originally had an attorney who wasn’t trying to help me out much or take any of my calls so I called Tiemann and told them my situation. They made it an AWESOME and Smooth transition over to them and took on both cases I had. I just settled on my big case and am beyond great full. For them and their team! I highly recommend them. To add on to this a little On how much they will work with you, I moved to Montana in the middle of all Of this and it was not an issue!

Maye Ly Testimonial
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I just saw my lawyer Jelena Tiemann on a t.v ad, which reminded me how much she helped when I was in a desperate situation. I just love her! That is why I feel a need to tell everyone. I had a situation that happened & didn’t know what to do, our where to go. I didn’t even know if she could help me or if any lawyer could. All I wanted was it to go away & was afraid most lawyers wanted to drag it out & possibly go to court. For one she was very professional but was very personable (maybe b.c she’s a lady). She didn’t make me feel embarrassed or self-conscious that I did something wrong or was the cause of the situation. She immediately said we should try our best before going to court. Let me handle some paperwork, if at the last we do go to court we have documents. She gave me all the details, pros and cons but reassured me she deals with these cases all the time. She came through and made it as painless as possible. I now have my life back.