After a car accident, there are various losses that you may incur. The losses could either be on your body or the car. Regardless of the effect, proving and calculating the losses can be a complex problem.
Therefore, you need to have all the proper knowledge to navigate this problem and produce the correct results. You should also remember that the compensation only covers the correct and real losses. As a result, accuracy is of great essence.
Read below to discover the correct steps for proving and calculating the lost wages in a car accident claim.
To get reimbursed for lost wages after a car accident, it is important to:
Report the accident
Once the car accident takes place, make sure you inform the insurance company immediately. At the same time, you must also pass the information on to the local police. This move will help make strong evidence of the occurrences in case they are needed in the future.
Look for Medication
Immediately after the accident, you must seek medication to cure any injuries to your body. After the treatment, ensure you request a well-detailed medical report on paper. The report plays a critical role in determining the compensation amount, and it’s also one of the most important legal evidence.
Take a Medical Certificate
While seeking medical attention, it is important to obtain a medical certificate while processing the report. The certificate proves to be very important during the claim processing period. This certificate will also indicate when you need to be away from work as per the recovery period you need.
Inform Your Employer
While making the reports, consider notifying your employer as early as you make the insurance company and the police aware. Letting your employer know about the accident will give you time to process the whole affair.
Make it clear to your employer that you need a specific period off duty to heal and work on the claim. Your time limit must be as per the medical certificate and the doctor’s report.
Keep the Records
Before beginning the claim process, you must document everything on paper. This will ease the proving process as you begin working on the proceedings. During this time, you must also include your employer and work records.
Such documents may include the employment contract, tax returns, pay stubs, bonuses, and all other benefits. All this information plays an important role in the calculation process for the claim.
Calculate Your Earnings Before the Accident
You must be aware of the earnings you were getting before the accident, either daily, weekly, or monthly. The payment frequency is also critical in determining the fair amount that you will get in the end. To simplify it, you may divide the total annual earnings by the number of working days in a year or week.
Keep Track of the Missed Working Days
You must have a clear picture of the total number of working days you have missed since the accident. The total number of lost wages will depend on this calculation. Therefore, you must give the final report on the missed working days accurately.
Look at the Future Earning Capabilities
Occasionally, the injuries you sustain after a car accident may last longer than you expect. This way, you may not be back at work for longer, meaning no earnings. Therefore, you need to have a good estimate of the potential earnings that you may miss for the period.
With this estimate, you can be sure of the settlement you will request. You may ask for amounts that will cover all the time you’ll be away until you return to work.
Look for Legal Aid
Legal assistance is important when you are having challenges with the claim process. When you have issues while negotiating with the insurance company, an attorney may greatly benefit you in proving and also estimate the lost wages. They may negotiate for you and help you if the matter escalates to court.
In Summary
Car accident claims may be different in most cases. However, the claiming process is quite the same in all these accident variations. Understanding the proof of a car accident claim helps determine the final figure you’ll get.
