When You Can't Work Because Of An Accident

Many people have heard of workers' compensation insurance, which provides employees with coverage for work-related injuries or illnesses, but you may also be entitled to salary reimbursement if you have a non-work related problem. If you have been injured in an accident, such as a car crash, you will likely miss work, but if you file a personal injury suit against the wrongdoer your lost wages are just one of many money damages you may be paid for. Read on to learn more about claiming lost wages for personal injury claim.

Why qualifies as lost wages? Accidents can wreak havoc on normal routines, and many times you may be too hurt to go to work. Below are just a few of the lost wages situations that may be included in your claim for damages:

• Hospital stays
• Appointments for medical treatment, therapies (such as physical therapy), mental health treatment, etc.
• Diagnostic procedures, such as lab tests or imaging
• Surgeries
• Picking up prescriptions
• Dealing with getting your car repaired or replaced.
• Commuting to and from any of the above.
• Time spent at home getting well.

How should I keep up with this? Since it's easy to forget, keep a small notebook or use the recording app on your phone to jot down things like commute times. A quick look through your receipts and records may help jog your memory to any time away from work.

What proof do I need? Along with the above proof of receipts and notebook or journal entries, you will need to provide statements that show how much you earn. For example:

• If you are paid by the hour: a pay stub/statement. If your pay varies from time to time, provide several so that an average can be calculated.
• If you are paid a set salary: a pay statement or a letter from your company stating your salary details.
• If you are self-employed: tax returns and/or several months of bank statements to show your usual income.
• If you are on-call or a seasonal worker: tax returns or a pay statement.

What if I used my vacation pay? You should not need to sacrifice your valuable job perks because of another person's carelessness. If you had to use vacation or sick leave for any reason related to the accident, provide proof of that so that you can be reimbursed.

As if being in an accident was not bad enough, missing work can mean putting your entire financial situation in jeopardy. Talk to a personal injury attorney like The Reed Noble Law Firm PLLC and get started on getting your life back to normal again.