A car crash doesn’t just leave you with injuries, it can also prevent you from working. Bills don’t stop just because you’re stuck at home or in the hospital. So you may be wondering, who pays for lost wages in a car accident?
In Georgia, the law allows injured individuals to recover lost income, but getting that money isn’t always straightforward. Depending on the situation, you may choose to file a claim through either your own insurance policy or the at-fault driver’s, or pursue legal action. The last thing you need after a wreck is unanswered questions.
For over 40 years, Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C. has helped injured Georgians recover lost income and medical expenses after they were injured in a car crash. When someone else’s negligence puts you out of work, you shouldn’t be the one who pays the price.
To speak with an experienced Athens, Georgia auto accident lawyer, please call (706) 354-4000 or fill out our online form today. We offer free, no-obligation consultations.
What Counts as Lost Wages After a Car Crash?
Missing work after a crash does more than shrink your paycheck, it puts everything on hold. Bills don’t pause; the added medical expenses only make things harder. Lost wages include more than just hourly pay or salary. Any income you didn’t receive because of the injury may be included in a claim.
Some of the most common types of lost income after a car crash include:
- Hourly pay and salary
- Bonuses and overtime
- Used sick days or vacation time
- Freelance or contract work
- Missed business opportunities
The job, the injury’s severity, and the recovery length all affect lost wages. A few days off might be manageable, but missing weeks or months can put someone in a difficult financial spot.
How to Claim Lost Wages from a Car Accident
Proving lost wages requires more than guesswork. To recover income, you need proof of how much you would have earned if the crash hadn’t happened.
Strong evidence includes:
- Medical records
- An employer statement confirming missed work and wages
- Pay stubs or direct deposit records
- Tax returns or invoices
- Correspondence with clients or job offers
Georgia follows an at-fault system, meaning the person responsible for the crash should cover your losses. Usually, that requires filing a claim with their insurance company. If they don’t have enough coverage or deny liability, you may need to take legal action to recover your lost wages.
Calculating Car Accident Lost Wages if Self-Employed
Lost income isn’t as easy to calculate when you don’t receive a steady paycheck. Car accident lost wages if self-employed require a different approach, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t valid.
Freelancers, independent contractors, and business owners can prove lost income with:
- Tax returns from previous years to show typical annual earnings
- Invoices and client payments to prove canceled work
- Bank statements to show regular deposits before the injury
- Proof of lost contracts or gigs, such as emails or messages from clients confirming cancellations
When income fluctuates, you should provide records showing typical earnings before the crash and the amount lost due to the injury. BBGA car wreck attorneys can help gather the proper documents to ensure no lost earnings go unaccounted.
When Will Lost Wages Be Paid After a Car Crash?
How long does it take to get lost wages from a car accident? It depends. Some claims get resolved quickly, while others take months, especially if there’s a dispute about liability or the value of the claim.
The type of claim can also affect timing:
- Insurance claims. The insurance company may issue payment within a few weeks if they accept fault.
- Personal injury lawsuits. Filing a lawsuit can take months or longer if the insurer denies the claim or offers less than the full amount.
- Workers’ compensation claims. Georgia’s workers’ compensation system processes lost wage claims for those injured on the job.
Delays in submitting proof of lost wages can give insurance companies an excuse to hold up payment.
Missing Work Due to a Car Accident: What Happens Next?
Time away from work after a crash can affect more than just your paycheck. Medical bills start adding up, household expenses pile up, and daily routines shift as you try to recover. Missing work because of a car accident isn’t just an inconvenience, it can change everything about how you provide for yourself and your family.
This is why taking the proper steps after a crash matters:
- Keep track of all missed work
- Save medical records and receipts
- Document any changes to your income
A strong lost wages claim includes records of missed work, proof of income, and medical verification. Document lost earnings from reduced hours or missed bonuses to strengthen your claim. Filing a claim as soon as possible can prevent unnecessary delays in getting compensated.
Can You Recover Future Lost Wages After a Car Accident?
Some injuries heal with rest and treatment. Others leave lasting damage, making it impossible to return to the same job — or any job at all. When a car crash results in permanent limitations, lost wages extend beyond a few missed paychecks.
In these cases, loss of earning capacity may apply, allowing you to seek compensation for the income you would have earned if the injury had not changed your ability to work.
For example:
- A delivery driver sustains a spinal injury in a rear-end collision and can no longer sit for long hours or lift heavy packages
- A mechanic suffers nerve damage in a crash and loses the ability to use fine motor skills, making repair work impossible
- A self-employed contractor fractures both wrists in a T-bone wreck and loses months of income from postponed or canceled projects
Calculating future lost wages requires more than past pay stubs. Medical experts can assess how the injury affects long-term job prospects, and economists can estimate lost earnings by analyzing career growth, industry trends, and missed promotions. The experienced personal injury attorneys at BBGA will work with experts to help determine the value of your claim.
Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C. Can Help You Recover Lost Wages After a Car Wreck
Lost wages shouldn’t be another obstacle after a crash. Whether you missed a week or months of work, that income matters. Who pays for lost wages in a car accident? It should be the person responsible for the wreck, not you.
Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C. has helped Georgia injury victims recover lost wages and compensation for over four decades. We don’t let insurance companies undervalue claims or dismiss an injury’s actual impact on someone’s ability to work.
Let’s talk about recovering your lost income after a crash. Call us at (706) 354-4000 or send an online message today for a free, no-obligation consultation to review your claim and get the help you need.
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