Accidents happen. Even when we’re careful, follow all the safety guidelines, and think before we act, we can still end up injured. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can lead to long-term financial loss. With financial loss comes a lot of anxiety and worries, which can make your physical health worse and make recovery time take longer.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your injury, you might be entitled to compensation. But how can you ensure you get the full amount of compensation you deserve? With the help of an experienced and reputable personal injury lawyer! So keep reading to find out how to ensure you get your full compensation after an injury.
What Falls Under Lost Income?
Before we can tell you how to get full compensation for your lost income, we need to let you know what falls under lost income. The reason for this is so when you file your personal injury claim, you know everything you can add to that claim, ensuring you get the maximum compensation you deserve. After all, you don’t know when you’ll recover, so you want to make sure your financial needs are taken care of. So here’s what falls under lost income:
- Base Pay: This means your hourly wage or salary that you would have received while you’re unable to work.
- Bonuses and Commissions: Some employers pay bonuses based on employee’s work performance. If you were in line for a bonus, but were unable to get it due to your injuries, you can demand reimbursement for it.
- Bonus Days: These are days off from work that you have to use or have failed to earn while in recovery. Bonus days include birthdays, comp days, national holidays, and personal days.
- Overtime: If you are an hourly worker who typically works overtime each week or during the busy seasons, you can recover the lost overtime pay.
- Perks: This could include the value of life and health insurance, stocks or stocks options, profit-sharing plans, and transportation allowances.
- Pay Raises: During your recovery you may have missed a scheduled salary increase, merit raise, or a cost of living raise. You are entitled to get that raise money.
- Retirement Fund Contributions: While out with your injuries, you may have missed adding contributions to your 401(k), pension funds, and other retirement plans. You may have also missed contributions to Social Security and your employer’s match to your retirement funds.
- Sick Days: If you used sick days during your recovery, you have a right to demand reimbursement for the value of those days. Most states consider it unfair to make you lose sick days that you won’t be able to use in the future.
- Tips: Tips are only included if you report them. If there is no record of your tips, then you cannot get compensation for them.
- Vacation Days: You should receive compensation for vacation days lost while you’re recovering from your injuries.
There may be other benefits that fall under this category, so make sure you get a list of all your benefits from your employer.
Hiring an Attorney
Along with proper documentation, hiring a personal injury law firm to take your case is your best bet. These law firms are experienced and able to look over your personal injury claims and get you the maximum of money possible. These lawyers can also ensure you have the proper documentation and everything else you need to successfully win your case.
If you live in the state of Florida, finding a reputable personal injury lawyer is easy. So if you’ve been injured, don’t wait to get the compensation you deserve. Do your research and start making your calls. The sooner you find the lawyer for you, the sooner you can put your financial woes behind you.
