After suffering injuries in a car accident, the victim may try to get their life back in order. Doing so proves challenging when injuries make returning to work difficult. Living in Florida comes with many expenses, and sitting out of work for months during recovery could easily present financial troubles. Injuries could even leave someone looking for a new career. Understandably, victims may sue to recover their losses, which could fall under different categories.
Future earnings vs. earnings capacity
When seeking damages for loss of earnings, plaintiffs would likely need to present realistic figures. Someone who worked in the same job for many years and earned a similar amount of money each year could claim losses based on those figures. A “loss of future earnings” may reflect what the victim would have probably earned during the months they were out of work.
Loss of earnings capacity often results when the injuries cause a disability, making the person either unable to work or forced to go into a new line of work. Someone who works in construction might need to take a much lower-paying job after suffering a back injury, for example.
Dealing with financial troubles after a car accident
Unfortunately, accidents could happen anywhere that might hurt someone’s ability to earn a living. Car accidents, specifically, may leave someone permanently disabled. Even individuals capable of making a complete recovery might suffer significant earning losses if they have to switch jobs or careers.
Filing an auto insurance liability claim could help someone recover losses related to work earnings. The insurance company might challenge the amount claimed, but the claimant may present evidence that the insurance company may find challenging to refute.