Determining Lost Wages in a West Chester, PA Car Crash Claim

If you’ve been involved in a car crash in West Chester, PA, you may be facing a range of challenges, from physical injuries to financial burdens. One of the key aspects to consider is lost wages—the income you’ve missed out on due to the accident.

Calculating your lost wages and fighting for the income you’ve lost can be a challenge, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Call Kingbird Legal at 484-289-4880 to set up a time to meet with our personal injury team now.

Are You Owed Lost Wages After a Car Crash?

In the aftermath of a car crash in West Chester, PA, if your injuries have prevented you from working, you might wonder if you’re eligible to receive money for the wages you’ve missed. Fair compensation aims to fill the gap for the paycheck you’d normally earn, ensuring you don’t fall behind financially while you’re recovering. But before you can actually recover anything for your lost wages claim, you’ll need to be able to prove that you did lose out on income and that your lost income was a direct result of the other party’s negligence.

Required Documentation for Proving Lost Wages

To successfully claim lost wages after a car crash in Pennsylvania, it’s essential to have the right paperwork in order. This includes items like your recent pay stubs, which show how much you usually earn, and your tax returns, offering a broader view of your yearly income. 

Additionally, a letter from your employer is very helpful. This letter should verify that you work there, explain how the accident has kept you from your job, and detail the income you’ve missed because of this. 

For those self-employed, gathering invoices, financial statements, and similar documents will be crucial. Keeping a detailed record of the days you missed work and any related medical appointments is also important.

Calculating Lost Wages for Salaried vs. Hourly Workers

Figuring out lost wages after a car crash in West Chester, PA, depends on whether you earn a regular salary or get paid by the hour. For those on a salary, the math is simple. You’ll take the amount you make each day or week and multiply it by the number of days or weeks you couldn’t work because of your injuries. This can be a bit more challenging if you work irregular hours or if your schedule fluctuates throughout the year.

Determining your lost wages is even easier if you are paid hourly. You can look at your average shift length, multiply it by your hourly wage, and multiply it by the number of days you’ve missed at work. This is especially easy if you work a set schedule.

The Challenges of Self-Employment Income

For those who are self-employed in West Chester, figuring out lost wages after a car crash presents its own set of hurdles. Unlike a regular paycheck, the earnings of someone who’s self-employed can vary widely from month to month, making it tricky to pinpoint exactly what you’ve missed out on. Gathering detailed records is key here. This includes any documents that show what you typically earn, like past tax returns, invoices you’ve sent out, and financial statements that reflect your business activities. This paperwork helps paint a picture of your usual income, making it clearer how the accident has dipped into your earnings. Without this concrete evidence, proving the full extent of your lost wages gets complicated. It’s about putting together a puzzle of your financial landscape, piece by piece, to demonstrate the impact the crash has had on your livelihood.

If you are a gig worker—for example, a delivery driver, rideshare driver, or babysitter—you may use apps to do your billing and accounting. This can help you prove the extent of your losses and the income you lost out on as a result of the accident.

Fight for Fair and Full Compensation With Kingbird Legal

Make sure you’re fairly compensated after a crash caused by another person’s negligence. Let us advocate for you in negotiations and in the courtroom. Call us at 484-289-4880 or get in touch with us online to set up a time to meet with our team now.