Following any type of accident, you may require extensive medical care depending on the severity of your injuries. Unfortunately, more often than not, when you are injured it prevents you from working. If you are unable to perform the duties of your job as a result of your injuries you may face a substantial loss of income that can negatively affect your overall financial security. Fortunately, in New Jersey, if you are not able to work because of injuries you suffered as a result of someone else’s negligence, you are legally entitled to file a personal injury claim to seek monetary compensation for your lost wages. Keep reading to learn more about what exactly is recoverable in a personal injury case and how our proficient Essex County Personal Injury Attorneys can help you navigate your legal options.
How can I sue for lost wages in a personal injury claim in New Jersey?
Firstly, lost wages are defined as any type of income that an individual is unable to obtain because they are unable to work as a direct result of their injuries. Depending on the extent and severity of your injuries, you may have to miss a significant amount of work. Ultimately, this will likely result in a substantial loss of income. In some cases, your injuries may have resulted in permanent disability which now prevents you from being able to fulfill your previous job duties and responsibilities. When this is the case, you must prove that your injuries have prevented you from working. To do so, you must present evidence such as:
- Medical bills.
- Medical records.
- Record of vocational rehabilitation treatment (if applicable).
- Testimonies and statements from doctors and/or therapists that can corroborate the physical and occupational limitations that you have faced as a result of your injuries.
- A statement from your employer that can verify the dates and shifts you had to miss due to your injuries.
- A statement from any witnesses.
- A statement from your loved ones indicating that your injuries have negatively impacted your everyday life.
What exactly can I recover in a personal injury case?
Furthermore, after any type of accident where someone else’s negligent actions directly caused your injuries, you may face both economic and non-economic damages. In a personal injury case, you can seek monetary compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are quantifiable and calculable losses. They may include past and future medical expenses, household services, vocational rehabilitation, property damage, lost earning capacity, and lost wages. Economic damages are any out-of-pocket losses. On the other hand, non-economic damages are subjective losses that cannot be calculated. Non-economic damages may include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and inconvenience. Ultimately, in a personal injury case, any substantial losses are recoverable if you can prove that your losses were the direct result of someone else’s negligent actions.
For more information on what exactly is recoverable in a personal injury claim, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our seasoned attorneys. Our firm is committed to helping our clients seek reasonable compensation for their economic and non-economic damages.
