Being in a car accident is a traumatic event in your life, but it can be especially traumatizing if it completely alters the way that you live your life. A car accident can cause anything from minor scrapes and bruises to life-threatening injuries. Not only do these injuries cause pain and give you high medical bills, but they can also prevent you from working.
It’s very difficult or impossible to work if you’ve recently incurred life-changing injuries such as a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, or even fractures or sprains. When you don’t work, you can’t get paid—and this can be detrimental to your family who depends on you for a paycheck.
Those persons who are injured can benefit from what’s called personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This type of coverage isn’t mandatory but can be extremely beneficial because it allows you to file a claim for lost wages under your own insurance policy. However, this can be frustrating because your insurance company may try to limit how much money you can get at one time.
But what if you don’t have PIP coverage? Is there any way to recover lost wages after an accident that wasn’t your fault? Here’s everything you need to know about recovering lost wages when you’ve been in an accident with a negligent or reckless driver.
RECOVERING LOST WAGES IN GEORGIA
If you are unable to work due to hospitalization, rehabilitation, or medical restrictions per a doctor’s instructions, then to be compensated for these lost wages you will need to provide evidence for these missed workdays and evidence of your weekly wages during your case against the at-fault driver.
These losses can be reimbursed to you by the at-fault driver’s insurance company, but you will need to provide them with evidence such as a recent paystub or a tax form that indicates how much money you were earning at the time of the accident.
And not only can you get compensated for lost wages for the time that you weren’t working, but you can also potentially seek compensation for income potential. For example, if your injuries have resulted in giving you a long-term disability or are specific in a way that prevents you from returning to your previous job, then you might be able to prove that this accident has taken away your ability to earn a paycheck in the future.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Georgia and needs a personal injury attorney to assist them with their case, call the Fry Law team at 404-969-1284. We can help you determine what your legal rights are and whether it makes sense to pursue compensation.
