How a Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney Can Help You Recover Lost Wages

When you’ve been hurt in a car accident, one of the biggest challenges you may face is the loss of income if you’re unable to work. Whether you’re dealing with an injury that will only take weeks to heal or you’ve suffered a long-term disability, the financial strain of lost income can be overwhelming. At Moore Law Firm, our motor vehicle accident attorneys in Mobile have helped more than 15,000 personal injury victims in Alabama pursue the compensation they need and deserve. We can accurately value your lost wages, future income loss, and other damages to ensure you get the full amount of compensation may be entitled to receive.

Understanding Lost Wages in a Car Accident Claim

Lost wages are the income you would have received if you hadn’t been hurt in an accident that rendered you unable to work. Wage loss may include:

• Hourly wages or salary
• Overtime
• Bonuses or commissions
• Sick days or vacation time used during recovery
• Self-employment income
• Missed career opportunities or promotions due to your injury
• Future income, if applicable

If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury that leaves you unable to work because of long-term or permanent disabilities, you may also be able to recover compensation for loss of earning capacity. This is an estimate of the future income you’ll miss because of your condition.

Recovering Lost Wages After a Motor Vehicle Accident in Alabama

In Alabama, you have the right to seek compensation for all economic and non-economic damages that result from an injury caused by someone else’s negligence, including lost wages. To pursue a claim, you must typically file a claim with the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company. If a reasonable settlement isn’t offered, your motor vehicle accident lawyer may take your case to trial to recover damages.

To recover lost wages, your car accident lawyer must demonstrate that the other party was at fault and that the injuries they caused resulted in you missing work and losing income.

However, it’s essential to understand that Alabama follows the pure contributory negligence rule, which means that if you are found to be even 1% at fault for a crash, you may be barred from recovering any compensation at all. That’s why it’s vital to hire a motor vehicle accident attorney who knows how to prove the other driver was completely at fault and build a strong case that shows the ways in which their negligence caused your injuries.

Gathering Proper Documentation is Vital in Alabama Car Accident Cases

For a car accident claim to be successful, you’ll need to gather documentation that proves your case, including evidence of your injuries, lost wages, and how the injury has affected your life. To support the lost wages part of your claim, you’ll need to provide:

• Medical records showing your injury and recovery period
• Doctor’s notes stating you were unable to work
• Pay stubs or W-2s from before the accident
• Employer letters verifying time missed and your salary
• Tax returns if you’re self-employed

Gathering and organizing this documentation can be overwhelming, especially when you’re focused on healing. One way to make the process easier is to keep all accident or injury-related paperwork you receive in a file. Even small items like prescription receipts provide concrete evidence of what the accident and your injuries have cost you. Our motor vehicle accident attorneys in Mobile can help you collect all relevant information and ensure you have everything you need to support your claim for lost wages and other damages.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

Whether you’re making a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company or asking your own insurance carrier for compensation, you’ll likely be contacted by an insurance adjuster. They may ask for a statement, request that you sign an authorization to get your medical records, or even try to get you to admit you were at fault in some way.

Do not give a statement, sign anything, or accept a settlement without consulting a car accident lawyer first. Insurance companies are always looking for a reason to deny or minimize claims, including blaming your injury on a preexisting condition.

Don’t fall for their underhanded tactics or let them pressure you into accepting a minimal personal injury settlement. Our motor vehicle accident attorneys know how to deal with these tactics and handle all communications and negotiations with insurers. We negotiate voraciously on your behalf and fight to help you recover the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve.

Why You Need an Alabama Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney

Trying to recover damages on your own may result in a denied claim or car accident settlement that barely even covers your medical bills, let alone lost wages. Insurance companies are not on your side, and it can be easy for victims to undervalue the physical, emotional, and financial costs of being injured in an accident.

Our car accident attorneys can evaluate your case and assess the full scope of your lost income, including future earnings if your ability to work has been permanently affected. We often work closely with financial, vocational, and medical experts to ensure that past and future wage loss and other damages are properly calculated.

Our Mobile auto accident lawyers are dedicated to advocating for your rights and helping you find peace of mind during this uncertain time. We handle all aspects of your case and fight for every penny you deserve so you and your family can focus on your recovery.

Contact Our Mobile Auto Accident Attorneys Today

If you need help recovering lost wages and other damages after a car accident in Alabama, our dedicated team at Moore Law Firm can help. Contact us, call 251-445-7602, or use the convenient chat feature on our website to schedule a consultation today with a motor vehicle accident lawyer in Mobile, AL.