What Happens If You Can’t Work After Your Motorcycle Accident?

If you or somebody you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by another driver in California, then you should be able to recover compensation for your medical bills and property damage expenses. However, what if you cannot work as a result of the injuries you sustained in the motorcycle accident? Here, we want to discuss whether or not you can recover lost wages through a motorcycle accident claim.

Recovering Compensation for Lost Income After a Motorcycle Crash

Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries for those involved. Even when a motorcyclist is wearing a helmet on California roadways, they are still incredibly exposed to the hazards posed by other vehicles, fixed objects, and the ground. It is not uncommon for motorcycle crash victims to sustain a wide range of injuries when a crash occurs, including the following:

• Severe road rash or lacerations
• Puncture wounds
• Crush injuries or amputations
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions
• Spinal cord trauma
• Whiplash
• Fractured or dislocated bones
• Internal bleeding or organ damage

Motorcycle crash victims may need significant time to recover after a crash occurs. It is not uncommon for these individuals to need extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation before they can return to daily activities, including work. These individuals should be able to recover compensation for their lost income.

Additionally, if a person sustains a permanent disability that partially or completely affects their ability to work, you must also consider the replacement of lost wages over a longer period of time.

How Are Lost Wages Calculated?

There are various ways to calculate lost wages after a person sustains an injury. Some of the main types of documentation that an injury victim and their attorney will need to gather include the following:

• Pay stubs
• Tax returns
• Bank statements
• Payments from various systems, including PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, etc. (this is particularly important for freelancers and contractors)
• A letter from an employer detailing the type of work involved and why the person can no longer perform these duties due to their injury

In the event a person is unable to work for a long period of time, or if they are permanently unable to return to the job, it will be important to work with trusted economic and financial experts who can examine the impact of this long term wage loss. This will include looking at a person’s age at the time the injury occurred, their potential for promotion, overall lifetime earnings that will be lost, benefits that will not occur, and more.

Work With an Attorney

It is crucial for motorcycle crash victims in California to work with trusted attorneys who can handle the entire case on their behalf. First and foremost, an attorney will fully investigate the claim to determine liability. Crash victims will not be able to recover lost wages if they do not win their personal injury claim in the first place. A Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer will ensure that trusted professionals examine the entirety of the situation to adequately calculate all losses, including medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering damages.