Can You Recover Money For Lost Income In Texas If Unable To Work After a Car Accident?

In the state of Texas, if you are unable to work after being involved in a car accident, you may be able to recover money from lost income. And why shouldn’t you? It’s not your fault that you can’t go to work because of an accident that someone else caused. Someone should be held accountable for the situation you’re in. A Dallas car accident lawyer can make sure that happens.

Proving Liability

The first thing you need to do in order to receive compensation after a car accident is prove that the accident was the other person’s fault. Texas is an at-fault state, which means that the person who is responsible for the accident should pay for the other person’s medical expenses, repairs to their vehicle, and lost wages. You may also be able to sue for pain and suffering.

Understanding Lost Wages

Lost wages are monies you are unable to earn due to the injury you suffered in a car accident. Lost wages can be:

Wages you did not earn during the period you were out of work
Lost earning capacity, if you suffered a long-term or permanent injury that makes you unable to do the same jobs as before
Lost opportunities, such as having to miss a job interview while you recover

Making A Claim For Lost Wages

When making a claim for lost wages, you have to be able to prove that the accident is the reason you are out of work. In other words, you have to be able to show that your injuries are serious enough that you are unable to work as a result. If your injuries aren’t so obvious (for instance, if you have neck pain, rather than a cast on your arm), you may need documentation from your doctor to support your claim.

Doctors sometimes give you slips that excuse you from work, rather than a detailed note explaining why you are out to your employer. Save these slips! You can use these as evidence in your case. If you don’t have these slips, however, all is not lost. A car accident lawyer can review your case and help you piece together the documentation necessary to prove that what you are experiencing is legitimate.

How To Collect Lost Wages

Once you have drafted your claim, you have several options insofar as recovering your lost wages.

First and foremost, you may be able to recover lost wages from the at-fault driver’s primary insurance company. Specifically, you should be able to tap into the other driver’s bodily injury liability coverage.

However, if the other driver is uninsured or does not have enough coverage to account for the accident, you may be able to recover lost wages under your own insurance policy – specifically uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Not everyone has this coverage, though, so if you need help understanding your policy, our team of lawyers can assist you.

If you have a personal injury protection (PIP) policy, you can also use this to recover lost wages. PIP will pay for injuries and lost wages up to the limits on your policy – whether the accident was your fault or not.

If you’re not sure which avenue to take, or which one would provide you with the best outcome, a traffic lawyer can compare your case to your policy or policies and advise you accordingly.

We Can Help You Recover Money After A Car Accident

One minute, life was going well, and the next you find yourself injured and out of work with a car that needs repairs – and all because of the negligence of another driver on the road. You should be compensated for the pain and suffering you have experienced. You also shouldn’t have to feel rushed to settle the matter just because the other driver’s insurance company wants to get your case off their desk.

A Dallas car accident lawyer can help you handle your case so that you can focus on what really matters: getting better and reducing your stress. By hiring a lawyer, you don’t have to worry if you’re drafting your claim right the first time, or if you’re submitting it to the right people. Our lawyers have years of experience in this area, and we are only too happy to help you recover the wages you should have been earning all along.

If you’re interested in speaking with one of the lawyers on our team, fill out our contact form, or give us a call at 469-998-4069 to get started. Don’t suffer even more than you already have. Call today, and let us help!