Lost wages are one of the most significant -- and often undervalued -- components of a personal injury claim. When an accident prevents you from working, you are entitled to recover every dollar of lost income, including salary, hourly wages, bonuses, commissions, overtime, tips, and self-employment earnings.
The average American loses $2,000 to $10,000 in wages for a moderate car accident injury. Severe injuries can result in months or years of lost income, with claims reaching $100,000 or more. Attorneys in our network* fight to recover your full lost earnings. *Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
What Qualifies as Lost Wages
Lost wages include all income you would have earned if not for the accident. This covers regular salary or hourly wages for time missed from work, overtime you were scheduled for or regularly worked, bonuses and commissions you would have earned, tips for service industry workers, vacation and sick days used for recovery, and self-employment income.
You can also claim lost wages for time spent attending medical appointments, physical therapy sessions, and legal consultations related to your case. Part-time workers, freelancers, and gig economy workers are all entitled to recover lost income.
If you used PTO, sick leave, or vacation days to recover, you can still claim those as lost wages because you lost the benefit of that paid time off. The insurance company must compensate you for the value of those days.
How to Document Your Lost Wages Claim
Strong documentation is essential. Get a letter from your employer stating your hourly rate or salary, normal work schedule, dates you missed, and whether you missed any overtime, bonuses, or promotions. Pay stubs from before and after the accident show the income differential.
For self-employed individuals, provide tax returns from the previous 2-3 years showing your average income, profit-and-loss statements, client contracts or invoices that were canceled or postponed, and a letter from your accountant or business partners.
Your doctor must provide documentation connecting your inability to work to the accident injuries. A note saying "unable to work from [date] to [date] due to injuries sustained in [date] accident" creates the medical nexus needed for your lost wages claim.
Were you in an accident?
Free case review. No fees unless you win. Available 24/7.
Future Earning Capacity Claims
If your injuries permanently affect your ability to work, you may have a future earning capacity claim worth significantly more than past lost wages. This applies when you can no longer perform your previous job, you must switch to a lower-paying position, your injuries reduce the number of hours you can work, or you require career retraining.
Forensic economists calculate future earning capacity by analyzing your age, education, career trajectory, industry earnings data, and the specific limitations caused by your injuries. These calculations can result in claims worth hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars for young workers with serious injuries.
For example, a 30-year-old construction worker earning $65,000 per year who can no longer do physical labor might have a future earning capacity claim of $500,000 to $1,000,000, representing decades of reduced earnings.
Recover Every Dollar of Lost Income
Do not accept a settlement that undervalues your lost wages. An attorney in our network* will document your full lost earnings and fight for maximum compensation.
Call (267) 212-1034 for a free consultation. No fees unless you win.
*Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Talk to an Accident Attorney Today
Free consultation with a local attorney in our network. No upfront fees, no obligation, available 24/7.
or text us — we reply in minutesFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, self-employed individuals can recover lost income by providing tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, client contracts, and other financial documentation showing the income lost due to the accident. Your attorney may retain a forensic accountant to calculate your losses accurately.
Yes, you need medical documentation connecting your inability to work to your accident injuries. A doctor's note specifying the dates you cannot work and the medical reasons why is essential. Without medical documentation, the insurance company will challenge your lost wages claim.
Yes. Using sick days, vacation days, or PTO to recover from accident injuries is a compensable loss. You lost the benefit of that paid time off, and the at-fault party's insurance must compensate you for it. Provide documentation from your employer showing the days used and their value.
Forensic economists calculate future lost wages by analyzing your age, education, career trajectory, industry earnings data, and the impact of your injuries on your ability to work. They project your lifetime earnings with and without the injury and calculate the difference, adjusted for inflation and present value.
If your injuries caused you to miss work and your employer terminated you, those lost wages and future lost earnings become part of your personal injury claim. You may also have a separate employment law claim for wrongful termination depending on your state and employment contract.
Need Legal Help? Get a Free Consultation
Speak with a local attorney in our network* today. Free consultation, no fees unless you win your case.
(267) 212-1034*Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.