Although some victims of auto accidents are thankfully able to get back to work fairly quickly, others are not so fortunate. Many victims of auto accidents sustain a level of injuries which makes it impossible for them to get back to work in a timely fashion, or, in extreme cases, at all. The inability to continue to work in a normal manner, especially in our present shaky economy, can have devastating and long-term financial effects on a family which they may be unable to recuperate from. If you’ve been involved in an auto accident and are unable to return to work, you may be watching your medical bills mount in an alarming manner, and wondering how you will continue to pay your normal living expenses while you are unable to work.

Recovering Lost Wages

The first step in recovering lost wages will be to fully document your pay before your accident. If you are a student pursuing a degree prior to your accident, then this is perhaps the only exception, in that you may be eligible to recover lost wages because of what you would have earned once you completed your degree. Any wages you earned prior to your accident not only must be documented, they must be able to be categorized as taxable income. The injuries you sustained in the accident must have significantly lessened your capacity to continue in your regular position, and a medical professional must certify that you now have specific disabilities or restrictions which hinder your ability to work in your prior profession.

How Will My Lost Earning Capacity Be Calculated?

Loss of future earnings, as opposed to simple lost wages is not calculated in the same manner. Loss of future earnings is calculated on your ability to earn money rather than your actual earnings before or after the injury. The court takes into consideration your actual earning capacity prior to your injury, then compares it to your now reduced earning capacity due to your injuries. The lost earning capacity is calculated by the difference in potential earning and actual earnings.

Because loss of future earnings is dependent upon your wage-earning capacity in the future, even if you happened to be unemployed at the time of your accident will not hinder a possible award of loss of future earnings. Assuming a person in their twenties has just begun their teaching career and the accident and resulting injuries prevent them from continuing that career. The courts will determine the natural progression of the individual’s teaching career, adding in expected yearly raises, cost of living raises, etc., when determining the loss of future earnings. If the person was also continuing their education with an eventual goal of becoming an administrator, then that will also be taken into consideration in the monetary calculations.

Returning to Work—with Diminished Future Job Prospects

Even if you are physically able to return to work, the accident and resulting injuries may still have diminished your future job prospects. Assuming you worked as a police officer, however your injuries dictate that you have been transferred from a police officer who works in the field to a desk job. Although you may still be receiving the exact same salary you were before the accident, your injuries may have conceivably prevented you from working your way up to detective—or even further, therefore you may qualify for loss of future earnings.

Consult a Mississippi Auto Accident Attorney for Loss of Earnings Questions

If you have questions regarding your right to compensation for loss of earnings, it’s imperative that you contact a Mississippi auto accident attorney from our law firm.   Having an attorney looking out for your rights is essential.  Call us today.