Recovering lost wages: What to do after a crash

The last thing you recall is that you saw a large truck heading your way. You didn’t think that it was going to stay in its lane, but you had nowhere to go. Several hours later, you found yourself awakening in a hospital bed.

You had been right. Shortly after realizing the truck wasn’t headed the right direction, you ended up in a serious motor vehicle accident. Both of your legs broke on impact, leaving you trapped in your hospital bed until someone can set a cast and take you home in a wheelchair.

Being unable to work is a common problem after crashes

It’s not uncommon to find that you can’t work after a truck or car crash. Your injuries may make it hard to stand, let alone go back to work for a long shift. Between pain, scheduled therapy sessions and your personal life, you don’t have time to work anyway.

This isn’t a unique situation, and there can be ways to pursue compensation for your missed workdays. To start with, you’ll need to keep all your receipts and bills. These are items that have to be submitted to the other party’s insurance carrier.

If you’re not in a position to file the claim yourself or don’t have time, an attorney can do so for you. He or she can focus on negotiating for a fair settlement, so you can focus on your recovery instead of working with the insurance company.

An insurance adjuster may wish to speak with you directly at the hospital or on the phone. It is acceptable to have your attorney take those calls or be present when he or she arrives. You may need to send photos of your injuries along with medical information to help him or her decide what the company thinks is a fair settlement. Your attorney can help negotiate from that point.

If negotiation doesn’t work out, it is typically possible to take a claim to court and allow a judge to decide what is fair. Most cases end with a settlement before they ever go to court.