Sustaining an injury can be incredibly difficult, as you may worry not only about the impact the medical bills you accumulate will have on your finances, but also the impact that the injury can have on your ability to work. Unfortunately, this can be made even worse if you discover that you are unable to return to work in your previous capacity. If this reflects your circumstances, understanding your right to recover compensation for your lost wages is critical. Keep reading to learn more about these matters, including the importance of working with a Broward County personal injury attorney to help you fight for the justice you deserve.
What Is Lost Earning Capacity?
Unfortunately, many people assume that lost wages and lost earning capacity are the same thing, which is far from the truth. In reality, you’ll find that lost wages can represent the funds you’ve missed out on while you were out of work healing following an injury. For example, if you were unable to work for two weeks because of a broken leg, you can seek compensation for these wages.
Lost earning capacity, on the other hand, is a much more complex matter. Generally, these damages are sought when someone is unable to return to work in their previous capacity or is unable to return to work at all. As such, you can seek compensation for the funds you would have earned had the negligent party not caused your injuries.
Typically, lost earning capacity is proven by subtracting what your average wages were before the accident from your current wages, if any. You should note, however, that matters like promotions, bonuses, and pay raises can also impact how much compensation you can seek.
How Do I Prove These Damages?
Unfortunately, proving how much money you could have earned can be more challenging than you may anticipate. That is why it’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced attorney to assist you through these challenging matters.
One way in which you can help prove these losses is to connect with expert witnesses who can testify on your behalf. For example, a vocational expert can speak to the severity of your injuries and how they inhibit your ability to perform the tasks previously required of you, while exploring whether or not other jobs in a reduced capacity would be viable. Additionally, an expert accountant may be called to speak, as they can help calculate your losses, including taking inflation into account. Finally, your employer may be able to testify in regards to any promotions or raises you were slated to receive before your injury occurred.
As you can see, this can be an incredibly overwhelming process to navigate, especially when you are healing from an accident that has altered your life. That is why working with an experienced attorney with the Finizio Law Group is in your best interest during these difficult times. Our firm will do everything in our power to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Connect with us today to learn how we can represent you.
