GUIDE: How To Claim Loss of Earnings

Can I Claim Loss of Earnings on My Personal Injury Claim?

Claiming compensation is not about punishing the other party. Rather, it is about giving tangible recognition of your pain and suffering and making sure that you have financial protection from being penalised just because you were the victim of another person’s actions. Instead, claim loss of earnings through The Compensation Experts.

What Does Personal Injury Compensation Cover?

Personal injury compensation may cover:

• Loss of earnings while you are recovering;
• An estimation of loss of future earnings if your career trajectory changes as the result of your injury, including lost bonus and overtime payments;
• Estimated loss of pension contributions and payments;
• Reasonable medical expenses;
• Prescription costs;
• At home nursing or assistance;
• Travel expenses to medical appointments and work (if you are unable to commute in your usual way);
• Other out-of-pocket costs incurred as the result of your accident.

Evidence Needed to Claim Loss of Earnings

Claiming compensation for loss of earnings differs if you are employed or self-employed. Employees need to produce payslips for three months before their accident. If you regularly work overtime, then you will need to prove that this would have been available to you during this period, for example, if you work in retail and are injured over the Christmas season, or you work in a beachside cafe during summer.

Compensation for lost earnings is typically calculated by finding the average amount you earned per month for the previous three months, then multiplying that by the duration you were unable to work.  If your earnings vary from month to month, the court may look at your last six months to get an average.

If you are self-employed, then you will need to show orders or contracts you were unable to meet as the result of being unable to work. The court looks at your accounts for the last three years to calculate an appropriate level of compensation payment.

Claiming Compensation for Loss of Future Earnings

In cases where a victim has endured substantial injury which prevents them from returning to work, or which prevents them from working the same number of hours as before, their personal injury lawyer may also ask for expected future earnings to be included as part of the client’s compensation payment.

Working out the loss of future earnings is not as simple as just adding up what they would be expected to earn until retirement age and paying it in a lump sum as that may mean the victim ends up financially better off than if they had not been injured. A set of figures known as Ogden tables is used to give an accurate assessment of future earnings.

Forecast pay raises, promotions and bonus payments can also be considered.

Starting a Compensation Claim

Get in touch with The Compensation Experts today. We have a team of trained legal advisors who are happy to answer any questions you have about claiming compensation for lost income in a free, no-obligation consultation. Call now, or contact us online and let us know when you want a callback.