Life is unpredictable. One day, you are healthy and physically fit. The next day, you get into an accident and get injured, which disrupts every aspect of your life. Personal injury accidents are not a rarity in Florida. Something like this not only limits your physical abilities but puts you in financial trouble as well. It is important to explore your options when you get hurt.
When you get injured and are unable to work, everything can seem too much. Medical bills keep piling up, rehabilitation costs add up, and your paycheck stops coming in. Florida has a no-fault insurance system that helps with certain costs, but it is not enough. The insurance does not help cover every cost, especially if you stay out of work for a long time.
Fortunately, there is another way to recover your financial losses. Florida law allows the victims of personal injury accidents to file an insurance claim and recover compensation from the liable party. However, the process is not easy. It is advised to consult with an attorney from the Weber Law Firm in Trinity to obtain the money you deserve.
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Types of compensation available if you cannot work
Here are the types of compensation available to you if you cannot work after a personal injury accident.
Lost wages.
Lost wages refer to the wages or income the victim has lost due to not being able to go to work as they were hospitalized or still recovering from their injuries. Lost wages can include the hours of work already lost due to the accident as well as any potential income that might be affected.
In order to calculate lost wages, victims usually calculate the number of hours they have missed work and multiply it with their hourly wages. This calculation may also include bonuses, overtime, or commissions they would have earned.
Future lost earnings and diminished earning capacity.
Calculating future lost earnings is one of the complex things in a personal injury case. This usually involves making a prediction of how an injury might affect someone’s ability to earn an income in the future. This often includes looking at the person’s work history, age, education, and career plans.
An attorney recommends hiring a vocational expert for accurate calculations. An expert can review the victim’s experience and qualifications and determine what kind of work they could have done after the injury. Then they would match the victim’s abilities and skills with the job market to analyse how much they would have earned if they were not injured.
Pain and suffering.
Pain and suffering compensation refers to the physical and emotional pain caused by an injury. Unlike hospitalization or medication costs, pain and suffering is not a one-time thing; instead, it is on-going. It refers to psychological pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, how the injury has impacted the victim’s interpersonal relationships, etc.
Medical expenses and rehabilitation costs.
Medical expenses are the most common damages recovered from personal injury accidents. They include hospital stays, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and rehab services. In Florida, personal injury protection (PIP) insurance covers 80% of medical expenses up to a certain amount. However, it is often not enough.
Disability benefits.
There are two types of disability benefits available– short term and long term. Short term disability benefits help replace income for people who can’t work because of non-work-related injuries or illnesses, but only for a limited time. On the other hand, long-term disability benefits are offered to those who cannot work for a longer time, such as six months or more.
Recover your work-related damages today!
An accident, whether it be a car accident or a slip and fall injury, can impact your life greatly. One of the most important aspects of life that gets affected is your work. If you have lost income and your earning abilities due to someone else’s negligence, hire an attorney in Florida today!
