Recovering Lost Wages After an Accident in Alabama

If you’ve been involved in a serious accident of any type, the injuries sustained can lead to mounting medical bills. These injuries can result in people being out of work, in many cases, for long periods of time. As medical bills mount and paychecks are not coming in, the economic impact can be devastating. This is why recovering lost wages after an accident in Alabama becomes vital.

At Morris Haynes Attorneys at Law, one of the many ways we help injured parties is by seeking compensation for income they would have earned if they had not been in an accident. But securing this compensation requires knowledge of how to build a claim and meet standards of proof. Our team has the experience you can count on to get the job done right and relieve your financial pressure.

What Lost Wages Include

When people think of lost wages, they typically think of just their standard pay for missing consecutive days of work. While this is included in compensation claims, it also considers several other areas. Missed overtime opportunities, bonuses, and commissions are just some of the things that you may be entitled to. 

Additionally, if you were forced to use sick leave, vacation days, or personal paid time off to attend doctor appointments or recover at home, you are entitled to get reimbursed for those benefits. 

How to Document Income Loss

To receive compensation for lost wages, you must have clearly documented evidence. It is not enough to say you were hurt and missed work. 

You must establish a medical foundation. This requires having documentation stating that your injuries prevented you from doing your job. You must also have the financial figures, including pay stubs, W-2 forms, and a completed Lost Wage Verification Form that your company’s human resources department signs. If you are self-employed, or an independent contractor, you typically have to show prior tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, and invoices showing that contracts had to be canceled due to your injuries and recovery.

When you choose to work with Morris Haynes, we will work tirelessly to help you gather these documents to show the losses incurred from your injury.

Partial Disability and Reduced Work Capacity

Not all injuries lead to a complete absence from work. In many cases, people can return to work in a modified role. This can include light-duty restrictions or reduced weekly hours. When this happens, you are dealing with reduced work capacity, and a compensable loss known as diminished earning capacity. 

For example, if you previously earned $2,000 a week, but can now only manage light-duty tasks that pay only $1,500 a week, you can seek a $500 weekly pay differential.

If your injuries result in long-term or permanent disability that prevents you from ever returning to your job, you may be entitled to an amount totaling your projected lifetime earnings loss.

Workers’ Compensation vs. Personal Injury Claims

How you pursue lost income will depend on where and how your injury occurred. If you were hurt on the job, your recovery will typically go through Alabama’s workers’ compensation system. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, meaning you do not have to prove employer negligence.

But, if your accident occurred outside of work, such as a personal car accident caused by a distracted driver, you must pursue a third-party personal injury claim. These claims follow Alabama’s rule of contributory negligence. This means that if a plaintiff is even 1% at fault for their injuries, they can not recover any damages.

How Lawyers Maximize Lost Wage Recovery

Recovering lost wages after an accident in Alabama requires working with insurance companies, gathering evidence, and ensuring that all documentation meets legal requirements. If you are recovering from an injury, handling all of this on top of your injury can be overwhelming. 

An experienced Alabama personal injury attorney maximizes your recovery by managing all aspects of your case. They coordinate directly with your medical team to have all of the vital paperwork regarding your injury and the limitations it has put on your work. By gathering this evidence and presenting a solid case, your attorney will ensure that your compensation meets your financial needs and helps cover injury-related expenses.

Contact Us Today to Learn More About Recovering Lost Wages After an Accident in Alabama

If an accident has disrupted your career and left you facing lost compensation, Morris Haynes Attorneys at Law is here to help. We have a proven track record of getting results that matter for our clients. 

Call us today at  205-324-4008 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. Reach out to us and discover why injured parties prefer to work with Alabama’s billion-dollar law firm.

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