What to Do If You Have Missed Work and Lost Wages After an Accident
Posted in Car accidents on March 10, 2025
After any type of accident, your priority should be working to recover from your injuries. Yet, that often means you may miss work. Your employer does not have to pay you for missing work if you are hurt in a car accident or another incident they did not cause. And that means your financial losses will mount quickly if you cannot go back to work for some time.
What do you do if you miss work and have lost wages after an accident? Document them and then file a claim that includes them with the help of a Nashville personal injury lawyer.
Lost Wages Are a Type of Economic Loss
Victims of a personal injury may include any economic losses they have in their claim against the at-fault party. That includes lost wages. Once you determine who is at fault, calculate your lost wages. Consider the following:
- What are your average weekly hours worked?
- How many hours of work did you miss because of your injuries?
- Determine if your employer used your PTO or other allowable time off to cover absences (you can still recover those losses in many cases)
Within your claim for compensation, list the specific number of hours you missed work and the value of those hours. You may need to submit past paycheck stubs or documentation of your normal work hours for verification.
Ensure Your Doctor Notes You Cannot Work
After an accident, seek medical care and then follow the requirements set by your doctor. If your doctor tells you that you should not work for several days, ask for a letter stating that with your doctor’s signature. This can serve as evidence that you are not to work as a result of the accident. The at-fault party’s insurance should then cover the losses you have.
Strategies to Maximize Your Claim
There are a few simple things you can do to ensure that you receive full and fair compensation for your losses related to work hours.
- Keep a log documenting each day you miss work and how you feel that day. Make sure it is clear that you informed your employer about the injury.
- Keep track of all doctor follow-up appointments. At each appointment, get verification and a doctor’s note indicating when you can work, how much you can work, and any related restrictions.
- Do not go back to work until your doctor signs off stating you can do so. Going back to work early can jeopardize your claim and may make your injuries even more complex.
When you have injuries from an accident that warrant time off from work, follow the doctor’s orders and stick with it. For those who expect to be out of work for some time due to the negligence of another person, it can be critical to work with an attorney right away. Your Nashville car accident lawyer will help you preserve evidence while ensuring you do not return to work too soon.
By taking steps to follow your doctor’s recommendations, you reduce the risk of further injuring yourself. Know that missed work can be costly, but it is not the only factor that contributes to the payment you receive. You may be owed compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of earning capacity as well. Let your attorney calculate all of your losses for you.