Accidents, whether on the road, in a store, or anywhere else, can cause severe damage and injuries. The aftermath of an accident can affect every aspect of your life, especially if your injuries prevent you from working. If you have been injured in an accident and are unable to work, you may be wondering about your ability to recover lost wages and other financial compensation for losses. Continue reading and consult with a New Jersey personal injury lawyer to learn more about your rights and legal options after an accident.
What Are Lost Wages?
Lost wages are any form of compensation that you miss out on because you had to take time off work to recover from an injury or ailment. This loss of income could include your salary, wages, tips, commissions, bonuses, benefits, and more.
How Can I Recover Lost Wages After an Accident?
If you were injured in an accident and cannot work or earn money during your recovery, you have several ways to recover lost wages. In New Jersey, the following are the most common ways to collect compensation for your loss of income.
- Personal Injury Protection: New Jersey is a no-fault state when it comes to car accidents, meaning that all drivers must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. This type of no-fault insurance is designed to compensate individuals injured in an auto accident regardless of who caused the collision. If your injury resulted from a car accident, you can recover financial losses associated with your injury including lost wages due to time taken off work to recover.
- Liability insurance: If the accident wasn’t your fault and you suffered injuries due to the negligence or recklessness of another party, you may be able to recover lost wages through the at-fault party’s liability insurance. You can generally file a liability insurance claim for premises liability accidents, car accidents, dog bites, and more.
- Workers’ compensation: If the accident happened while you were on the job or as a result of work-related activities, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. In NJ, workers’ comp covers medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses for employees who are injured while performing work-related tasks.
- Personal injury lawsuit: If your accident and injury resulted from another person or entity’s negligence, you may have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit. In a lawsuit, you can seek compensation for various damages including lost wages.
The method you take to recover lost wages should be tailored to your situation. Whichever path you take, you must demonstrate that the accident caused your inability to work. This can be done through medical records and testimony from doctors or other medical professionals who can speak to the severity of your injury and how it impacts you.
In addition, collect evidence of the time you were required to take off work as well as pay stubs and other documentation proving the amount of income you missed out on during recovery. Work with an attorney for professional representation.
