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Lost Wages After a Car Accident
In a typical auto accident there are two primary types of damages that an accident victim may be entitled to recover: non-economic and economic damages. The terms “non-economic damages” refers to what people generally call “pain and suffering.” Those damages are for the pain, disability, impairment and loss of enjoyment of life that an accident victim may suffer. The other category of damages is “economic damages” and those damages are for the financial impact that an accident has on a victim. So who pays lost wages after a car accident?
Economic damages include items such as lost wages, out-of-pocket medical expenses and expenses paid to others to perform duties that an accident victim performed themselves before the accident. The lost wages component of the damages may be recovered several different ways. In the first instance, some auto insurance policies provide for income continuation benefits under the PIP (personal injury protection) coverages. The victim can make a claim against that policy and recover up to the policy limits.
A second option is that a victim that is unable to work for a prolonged period of time may file for disability benefits. In either the first or second options, if those benefits, under the PIP coverage or through disability, do not cover the lost wages completely, the victim may pursue the person that caused the accident for the unrecovered portion of the loss. Additionally, if the victim does not have PIP coverage or is not eligible for disability, they may pursue recovery against the persona that caused the accident.
If you were injured in a car accident and have questions about lost wages or your injuries and rights, please call a car accident lawyer for a free consultation at 732-247-3600.
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If you have been injured in a car accident, we can help. For a free initial consultation with a car accident attorney, contact us by e-mail or call our offices, in New Brunswick at 732-247-3600 or in Somerville at 908-448-2560.
