Car wrecks can have all sorts of effects on victims, and you are entitled to be compensated for all of them. One form of damage that is not often considered is that of future earnings. When an accident has caused you such severe harm that your ability to earn has been impacted, that is future earnings. Read on to learn more.
Lost wages
If you had to miss work because of anything connected to the accident, then you are speaking of lost wages. You can be paid for all time missed for dealing with medical issues, your wrecked car and then the time spent recuperating. That, however, is only part of the way that personal injury law helps to make things right for victims because you may also be eligible for work-related damages that haven't yet happened but that might happen in the future.
Future Wages
When dealing with lost wages, you can easily calculate what you are owed by adding up your missed salary and the time you used paid time off. Calculating future lost earnings is not as simple as that. Not all who are eligible to be compensated for lost wages are also due to be compensated for future earnings. You must be able to show that the accident has affected your ability to earn a living permanently or that the wreck and the time you missed from work has caused harm that cannot be undone.
The damage does not necessarily need to be to your body; it can be emotional or mental harm as well. For example, if the accident was so traumatic that you now suffer from PTSD or other emotional disorders, it might well cause a lasting impact on your working potential. Needless to say, brain injuries can have a lifetime impact on both your personal life and your career.
Proving the loss
It might be necessary to consult with experts in the field of vocational health and medicine to determine your level of functioning in regard to the specific tasks required for your job. It's not enough to allege that you cannot work at your job because of the accident, you must have proof in the form of expert testimony and medical evidence. In addition to proving the harm done, there is another task ahead, and that is the amount of money you want to be paid for your future lost earnings. Here, your age, education level, skills, former position, and salary are all taken into consideration to form a figure.
While this is an uncommon form of damage, it is not unheard of, particularly for those suffering from permanent injuries and who were performing in their careers at high levels. Speak to a personal injury lawyer to learn more.