When someone suffers an injury due to another person’s negligence, the financial toll can be steep. Two of the most important elements in any personal injury claim are lost wages and future medical costs. Understanding how these are calculated helps injury victims get fair compensation.
🔹 What Are Lost Wages?
Lost wages are the income you missed because your injury prevented you from working. This includes:
- Hourly or salaried pay
- Overtime
- Bonuses or commissions
- Sick leave or vacation time used due to the injury
✅ How to Calculate Lost Wages
- Collect pay stubs or tax returns. These documents prove your earnings.
- Multiply your daily earnings by the number of missed workdays.
- Example: If you earn $200/day and miss 20 days of work, lost wages equal $4,000.
- Include all lost earning sources. If you missed bonuses or freelance gigs, add those too.
Important: If your injury caused a long-term or permanent disability, lost earning capacity must also be considered. This involves a deeper calculation based on your age, job skills, and future career path.
🔹 What Are Future Medical Costs?
Future medical costs include any medical treatment you will need after your case is settled. These are based on your current condition, medical expert input, and treatment forecasts.
Examples include:
- Ongoing physical therapy
- Future surgeries
- Prescription medications
- Long-term rehabilitation
- In-home medical care or devices
✅ How to Estimate Future Medical Expenses
- Get written opinions from medical providers.
- Doctors estimate the cost and duration of future care.
- Use current pricing for services.
- Adjust for inflation and regional pricing differences.
- Work with a life care planner.
- This expert builds a long-term care plan that outlines all expected costs.
🔎 Who Calculates These Damages?
To prove these losses, personal injury attorneys use:
- Pay records and employer testimony
- Medical reports and expert opinions
- Financial planners or economists (for lost future earning potential)
- Life care planners (for long-term medical needs)
🧾 Why Accurate Calculations Matter
Insurance companies often undervalue these costs. Without detailed documentation, you risk accepting a low settlement. Accurate calculation helps:
- Prove your full financial impact
- Maximize your claim value
- Strengthen your negotiation position
💬 Conclusion
Lost wages and future medical costs are more than numbers—they reflect your life after an injury. Don’t settle without knowing what you’re truly owed.
👉 Contact The Woodlands Law Firm today at (832) 626-0116 or schedule a free consultation. Our team will fight for the compensation you deserve.
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