If you were hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to recover compensation for your lost wages with the help of an experienced San Antonio injury attorney. Understanding how to calculate these damages is crucial for determining the amount of compensation to demand in your personal injury claim. Here is what you need to know about calculating lost wages in a personal injury case.
Lost wages are considered a form of special damages in personal injury claims in Texas. If you are unable to work because of your injuries, you can pursue compensation for your lost wages. Damages for lost income signify the amount of income you lost because you had to take time off work to seek medical treatment or recover from your injuries.
Damages for lost wages can include all of the following:
Your lost wage claim is specific to your particular situation and can be quantified based on the specific losses you have incurred.
Calculating lost wages depends on which type of loss you are trying to quantify. Here are a few examples:
Calculating lost wages for hourly workers requires you to multiply the number of hours you missed from work by your hourly pay. You would do the same for any overtime pay you missed by multiplying the number of overtime hours you usually worked by your overtime rate of pay.
To calculate your lost salary, you need to determine your average daily wage. Divide your annual salary by the number of days you work in a year. Then, multiply this number by the number of working days you missed because of your injury.
Calculating the loss of self-employment income is more complex, especially if your income is irregular and unpredictable. You can review your historical earnings to estimate the amount of income you lost while recovering. Determine your average daily income by dividing your annual income by the number of working days for the preceding year. Multiply the daily figure by the number of working days you missed due to your injury.
You may have lost various employment benefits due to your injuries, such as:
You may be able to use your check stubs or other statements from your employer to show the value of these losses.
You will have to prove the value of your lost income. You can do this with evidence such as:
In addition to your lost wages, you may be able to recover compensation for your reduced earning capacity and other economic and non-economic damages. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help identify, document, and calculate your losses. Contact The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC to schedule a free consultation online.
"*" indicates required fields