One of the first things that our clients ask our Philly accident attorney is how much their case is worth. We always tell clients, especially when we first meet with them, there is no way that any attorney can give you a precise figure for how much your case is worth. Even on the day of trial, your attorney will have no idea how much you will be entitled to. However, what our Philadelphia injury lawyers can do is give you an idea of the types of damages you may be entitled to. Here, we will discuss one such type of damage which is lost future income. If you still have questions about your own accident case, contact our office today and schedule your free, initial consultation.
Your Philadelphia Injury Lawyer Will Demand Different Types of Damages
Once your Philadelphia injury lawyer has proven that the defendant was at fault, they will move on to prove the damages cited in your initial complaint. It’s important to understand that just because you were involved in an accident, that doesn’t mean that you’re automatically entitled to damages. Your Philly accident attorney is going to have to prove each and every type of damages listed in your complaint.
In most of the accident cases our Philadelphia injury lawyers handle, they typically demand the following as far as damages are concerned:
- compensation for any outstanding medical bills
- reimbursement for any bills that you have already paid out of pocket
- the fair market value for your vehicle if your car was totaled in the crash
- pain and suffering damages to compensate you for any mental and physical anguish you experienced
- lost wages for any days that you missed as a result of your injuries
- lost future income if you are no longer able to do the same kind of work that you did before the accident
In order to be awarded any of these damages, your Philadelphia injury lawyer has to prove each and every one. When it comes to proving your lost future income, your attorney is going to have to submit specific evidence showing two things. First, they will need to prove that you can no longer work in the same position you held prior to the accident. Second, they will have to prove the difference between what you would have earned prior to the crash and what you will now earn as a result of your injuries.
If Your Injuries Were Very Serious, You May Not Be Able to Work Ever Again
Depending on the nature and severity of your injuries, you may never be able to work again. Fortunately, this isn’t the case for most of our clients. Our Philly accident attorneys have represented thousands of people over the years. In about 10% to 15% of these cases, our clients either become totally disabled, or they have to find a new career because they can no longer physically do the job they had prior to their car accident.
It is important to understand that the court is not going to order damages for lost future income if you choose to retire early. For example, we have had clients in the past tell us that the accident woke them up to the fact that they work too many hours. Or they say they saw their life flash before their eyes and want to make sure they take time to stop and smell the roses.
This is all well and good. However, this is not justification for demanding damages for lost future income. Your Philadelphia injury lawyer will have to specifically prove that you are no longer able to do the job that you held the day before your accident took place. They must also show that this will be the case going forward. If the defendant’s attorney can demonstrate that you will be able to return to that position in a matter of months, you will not be awarded special damages for lost future income.
Contact One of Our Philadelphia Injury Lawyers Right Away
If you have been hurt in any type of accident and can no longer work, you may be entitled to special damages. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may not be able to work at all after your car accident. Or you may be able to work, but not in the same capacity that you did prior to the crash. If this is the case, and the defendant was at fault, your Philadelphia injury lawyer will demand damages for lost future income. As explained to you, these damages are different than damages for lost wages. Lost wages may amount to a few hundred or maybe even a thousand dollars at most. However, lost future income can be hundreds of thousands of dollars. It all depends on what you were making prior to the accident compared to what you will now make as a result of your injuries.
We suggest that any accident victim who believes that they’re entitled to damages contact our office. You can sit down with one of our Philly accident attorneys and tell them your side of the story. They can answer any questions you may have and they can even give you an idea of what your case is worth. As far as knowing how much any specific type of damages will be, it’s way too early to provide you with that kind of information. Our attorneys need time to review your case and see what the other side has to offer before they can take a guess as to what your damages for lost future income will be.
We offer all new clients a free, initial consultation. You can come in and sit down with one of our attorneys free of charge. In addition, our firm does not charge any of our clients anything upfront. What this means is that you can come into the office and retain our services without putting a penny down. Knowing that the defendant is going to have an attorney representing them in court, it’s in your best interest to have somebody in your corner as well.