Being involved in a car accident, even if it's not your fault, can have a devastating impact on your ability to perform your job and maintain a steady wage. If your car is totaled, you may not have a ride to get you to and from work. If you're injured, your injuries might make it impossible for you to work. However, a great auto accident attorney can often help you get reimbursed for your lost wages on top of your medical bills.

Reimbursement for Losing Your Job

If your injuries and the damage done to your car are due to the negligence of another driver, their insurance provider will pay for both lost wages and future wages. However, the insurance provider will do everything they can to trick you into accepting a low-ball settlement that might not cover your lost wages.

Therefore, you'll want to have any settlement reviewed by an auto accident attorney before you consider accepting it. Ideally, you should work with your auto accident attorney to come up with your own demand letter in which you request compensation for all expenses related to the accident.

Special Damages

Damages you receive compensation for such as lost wages are referred to as "special damages." You will be compensated for your lost income for the period of time from when you had your accident to when you were considered "stable." This is the moment where you are able to return to work after making a full recovery.

If you are able to return to work, but at a diminished capacity, you would be entitled to compensation for this as well. However, you'll want to speak with your attorney about whether your state has any limitations on how much you can collect.

If you have vacation or sick time, you are even able to deduct these benefits from your lost wages. As for general damages, which refers to your lost earning capacity, you must be able to prove that you were capable of earning money prior to suffering an injury. This is difficult to calculate because it's tricky to predict where you would be in your career if you had not been injured.

However, it's clear that serious and debilitating car accident injuries can affect one's earning potential and you should do everything possible to seek compensation. Recovery from a car accident can be expensive, painful, and time-consuming but the process is less difficult when you have been reimbursed for some of your expenses.

If you have further questions, reach out to a local auto accident attorney.