After a car accident, your focus should be recovering from your injuries. When you lose the ability to work or have to miss work due to treatment for an injury, you may wonder whether you can be reimbursed for lost wages after a car accident. In many cases, yes, you can.
At the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, our experienced Boca Raton car accident lawyers are ready to demand compensation on your behalf. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Boca Raton, LA, contact our Boca Raton office online or call us at (561) 347-7770 for a free case consultation.
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How Can A Boca Raton Car Accident Attorney Help Get Reimbursement for Lost Income?
As if recovering from your injuries is not stressful enough, lost income when you are unable to work can make your difficulties much worse. In addition to paying usual and ordinary expenses, car accident victims have to figure out how to pay for medical expenses and other accident-related expenses.
The Boca Raton personal injury lawyers at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, have been getting the compensation car accident victims deserve since 1996. We’re ready to put our 28+ years of experience behind you in pursuit of lost wages and other damages.
When you rely on our firm to handle your personal injury claim, we will:
- Give you the necessary support and guidance for this difficult time
- Manage all parts of your personal injury case, from beginning to end, and stay in touch throughout each step
- Investigate the circumstances of your car accident, the damages caused to your property and person, and identify the at-fault party
- Identify all potential sources of compensation and handle all communication with the insurance company
- Gather medical records and work with medical experts to prove the extent of your injuries
- Prove lost wages and earning capacity, using your tax return and any other necessary supporting documentation
- Hold the at-fault party accountable for your financial losses related to the accident
- Defend our clients from claims of fault made by the insurance company
After an accident, our priority is helping our clients get back on their feet again. To learn about how we can get you the full compensation you are legally entitled to, call our Boca Raton car accident attorneys today for an absolutely free case consultation.
What are My Rights to Reimbursement for Lost Waves After a Car Accident in Boca Raton, Florida?
Following a car accident, you may be entitled to reimbursement for economic and non-economic damages or losses. Economic damages are those that are quantifiable, like lost income and medical expenses. Non-economic damages have a value that is less easily quantified, like pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life.
Economic damages include lost wages. The purpose of economic damages is to make the injured person whole after an accident. This means the money makes up for any money you lost and you are back in the same financial position as you were in before the accident.
You may be entitled to more than the wages you are unable to earn at this moment in time. You can also seek compensation for past and future wages, as well.
In addition, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Wages and salaries
- Other earned income and overtime
- Benefits and commissions
In some cases, injured victims use their paid time off or vacation days so that they do not suffer an interruption in income. If you must use your paid time off or vacation days as a result of a car accident, you are entitled to be reimbursed for those losses, too.
What If I’m Self-employed, a Freelancer, or an Independent Contractor?
Just because you’re not a salaried W2 employee doesn’t mean that you aren’t entitled to recover compensation for the income you lose as a result of an accident.
However, it can be more difficult to prove the earning capacity of a self-employed car accident victim. That’s why it’s really important to work with an attorney who understands how to frame your case and appreciates what kind of evidence you’ll need to support your demands.
Hire an experienced car accident attorney like Gregg Hollander at the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, to make sure you get the money you deserve. Contact our office today to get your lost income reimbursement case started with a free consultation.
How Do I Show My Right to Lost Wages After a Car Accident in Boca Raton, Florida?
When you file an insurance claim for lost wages, you have to be prepared for the obstacles the insurance company will throw at you. Insurance companies earn higher profits when they keep their liability amounts as low as possible.
The right to reimbursement for lost wages after a car accident depends on several factors. The type and severity of your injuries and the duties required of you to perform your job will determine whether you are unable to work.
To be found unable to work, you must prove:
- Your ability to work is impaired by the injury
- The amount of income from lost wages to which you are entitled
When filing a claim for reimbursement of lost wages, insurance companies may require employees to submit a form, completed by the employer, to verify their wages.
In general, to establish the right to be reimbursed for lost wages, an injured victim must have:
- A statement from their employer establishing the wages, salary, and benefits earned in the previous 13 weeks
- For self-employed claimants, relevant documents like Form 1099s, tax returns, and canceled contracts showing lost income
- A statement from your doctor establishing an inability to work as a result of the injuries from the car accident
- Medical records supporting the doctor’s conclusion
Your right to reimbursement for lost wages is dependent on the lost wages information provided by an employer or proven by documents if you’re self-employed. The testimony of your treating physician and medical experts determine how long you may receive reimbursement for lost income.
Whose Responsibility is it to Reimburse Me for Lost Wages After a Car Accident in Boca Raton, FL?
There may be more than one responsible party when it comes to reimbursement for lost income after a car accident. Determining how the accident happened and the extent of the injuries helps identify the potentially responsible parties.
Your Own Car Insurance Company
Florida has no-fault insurance laws. Under no-fault insurance laws, a driver files a claim with their own insurance company first, no matter the cause of the accident. In Florida, it is mandatory for every driver to have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.
Under Florida law, insurance companies are only required to cover 60% of lost wages and lost earning capacity.
Parties who can claim compensation for lost wages from your own car insurance company include:
- The named insured
- Family members who live in the household of the named insured
- Passengers in the vehicle at the time of the car accident
- The person driving the car
- Any other person who is struck by the vehicle
These benefits are payable every two weeks. Florida law allows drivers to carry insurance with limits as low as $10,000 for both medical bills and lost wages. As a result, your own insurance company may leave you short of full reimbursement.
The At-Fault Driver
After a serious injury, the benefits offered by your own insurance company may be quickly exhausted. For lost wages your insurance policy cannot cover, you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
An experienced car accident attorney can help you negotiate after filing a claim with an insurance company. However, there are times when insurance companies refuse to settle. In these cases, it is necessary to file a lawsuit.
You will need a knowledgeable lawyer to establish the driver’s fault for the car accident. At the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, we will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of your car accident. We do everything possible to build a strong case against the at-fault driver.
The Negligent Driver’s Employer
In some situations, a driver’s employer can be made to pay for your losses. If the driver is working at the time of the car accident and their negligent behavior caused it, their employer may be responsible. In cases involving truck accidents, for example, a trucking company may be responsible to compensate injury victims.
What Injuries Qualify for Reimbursement for Lost Wages After a Car Accident in Boca Raton, Florida?
The only qualification for injuries to give rise to the right to reimbursement is that it prevents you from working.
The personal injury lawyers at the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers can help you with your claim for reimbursement for lost wages if you have suffered:
- Neck and back injuries
- Joint injuries
- Severe burns
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Lost limbs
- Full or partial paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Nerve damage
- Head injuries and whiplash
- Wrongful death of a family member
An injury does not have to be disabling or permanently debilitating to interfere with your ability to work. If you’ve lost wages after a car accident and want to understand your right to reimbursement, reach out to our office today for a free consultation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for Reimbursement for Lost Wages After a Car Accident in Boca Raton, FL?
In Florida, the time limits on personal injury claims are strict. Injured victims have only two years to file their claim. (This deadline could vary depending on the facts of the case).
Failure to file this claim on time will prevent you from recovering any reimbursement. Our detail-oriented personal injury attorneys will ensure your case is timely filed within the statute of limitations.
Call Our Boca Raton, FL Auto Accident Lawyer to Get Reimbursed for Lost Wages After a Car Accident
If you’re unable to work after a car accident, you should be able to spend your time recovering from your injuries, not worrying about how to pay the bills. The experienced attorneys at the Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers can handle the entirety of your case and you can focus on your health.
