There are many considerations to be had after being involved in an accident, whether it was a car crash, slip and fall, or any other type of incident. You will have to deal with medical evaluations and treatments, emotional distress, repairing property damage, and maybe even taking time off of work to recover from your injury. If you were injured in an accident and missed out on income, you may be able to recover lost wages through one of several legal actions. For more information on your rights and options, read on and consult with a skilled Memphis personal injury lawyer today.
What Are Lost Wages?
Lost wages is the term used to describe the amount of income that you lost or missed out on due to taking time off of work. If you were injured in an accident you may have to take a few days, weeks, or even months off to recover. Depending on your job and the nature of your injury it could significantly impact your ability to perform the essential functions of your role.
Any income, tips, bonuses, commissions, or benefits that you would have received during that time is considered lost wages. However, depending on the details of your situation, you may be able to recover compensation to make up for the loss.
How Can I Recover Lost Wages After Being Injured in an Accident?
In Tennessee, you have several options when attempting to recover lost wages after an accident. If your injury prevented you from working and you missed out on income and other benefits, consider the following ways to collect compensation.
- Liability insurance claim: Depending on the details of the situation and who was liable for causing the accident, you could file a liability insurance claim against the responsible party. For example, in a car accident, the liable party could be the other driver or in a slip and fall it could be the property owner. You may be able to file a claim with their insurance provider for a settlement including lost wages.
- Personal injury lawsuit: If another individual or entity was responsible for causing your accident and injury, you can also file a lawsuit against them for your damages. You may resort to a lawsuit if they deny your insurance claim, you cannot agree on a settlement, or your injuries are particularly severe. Through a lawsuit, you can recover compensation for various losses including medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of income.
- Workers’ compensation: This option will only be valid if you were injured on the job or as a result of work-related activities. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides employees who sustained injuries related to their job with benefits like coverage for medical expenses and lost wages. If you had to take time off work to recover from an injury sustained on the job, you could collect lost wages through workers’ compensation.
For more information and legal assistance regarding recovering lost wages, contact a skilled attorney at Ballin, Ballin & Fishman, PC today.
