Injuries sustained in a car accident can have a significant impact on the daily life of the victim. The National Safety Council reports that injuries from motor vehicle accidents lead to $463 billion in costs including lost wages and productivity. One of the major concerns for car accident victims is their ability to go to work after an accident. This also means the victim may lose out on wages or earnings.
However, injured victims can file a car accident claim to recover compensation for the losses incurred due to the accident. This compensation claim may also cover damages for lost wages.
Damages in a Car Accident Claim
In a car accident claim, the victim may receive compensation for several types of losses. Some common losses that can be claimed include:
Medical Expenses
This includes compensation for all the medical expenses incurred by the victim. The victim must always consult a doctor after a car accident. Damages for medical expenses will cover the costs of x-rays or scans, doctor’s fees, treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation.
Lost Wages or Income
If the nature of the injuries is such that it causes the victim to miss work, he or she may be entitled to receive compensation for the loss of wages or income. Lost wages are one of the main points of focus in a personal injury or a car accident case. In most cases, the injuries usually force the victim to miss work as the doctor may advise them to take rest even when the injuries are not severe or catastrophic.
In other cases, the victims may suffer life-altering injuries which may require them to miss work for a long period of time or affect their ability to work for good. All these factors are taken into account while calculating the damages for lost wages or income.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering is the compensation for the overall hardship caused to the victim because of the accident. This includes compensation for the physical and mental pain as well as suffering that the victim undergoes because of the injury. However, mental damages may be more difficult to claim as they are harder to document.
Damages for the Loss of a Career
In some car accident cases, the injuries may be so severe that they may have a permanent impact on the person’s earning capacity. The damages for loss of earning capacity may differ from case to case, depending on the nature of the injury and the type of work the victim does.
For instance, if a world-class football player loses two toes due to an injury from a car accident, it might seriously affect their ability to earn in the future and might even force them to quit the profession. However, losing two toes may not have a career-ending impact on a person who has a corporate job. Factors including the nature of the injury and the type of job must be evaluated before filing a claim.
Contact an Indiana Car Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a car accident in Indiana that caused or is likely to cause a loss of income, consider reaching out to our team of Indiana car accident attorneys at Stewart & Stewart. Our seasoned attorneys will gather all the required information regarding your medical expenses and loss of income and provide a credible and fair evaluation of your claim.