What You Can Recover
- Past lost wages: Income you missed from work due to the accident and treatment
- Future lost earning capacity: Reduced ability to earn income in the future
- Lost benefits: Health insurance, retirement contributions, bonuses lost during missed work
- Self-employment income: Lost business revenue and profits
- Sick/vacation time: PTO used for medical appointments counts as lost wages
Proving Lost Wages
Documentation is critical:
- Employer verification letter confirming pay rate and missed time
- Pay stubs and W-2 forms
- Tax returns (especially for self-employed individuals)
- Doctor's notes restricting work
- Vocational expert testimony for future earning capacity claims