If you are injured, whether in a traffic collision, a slip and fall, or in any other situation, and that injury is the result of another person’s negligence, you likely will be able to recover compensation for your losses. But what does that mean?
You would always expect to be able to recover medical expenses to cover your treatment, prescriptions, and any necessary therapy, but what else can you recover compensation for? The quick answer is, injury compensation might include more than you think, including lost earnings.
Lost Wages are Economic Damages
The law is clear on the fact that parties who cause injuries should be liable for resulting losses. While each case is different, medical expenses and lost income are usually the top two categories of economic damages recovered by injury victims. Economic damages include any out-of-pocket expenses you incur as a result of your injuries that can be quantified with a dollar amount.
If you miss time at work due to your injuries or recovery, you can miss out on wages and use all of your sick time and available leave. This can make it difficult to cover your bills and put financial strain on your household. The good news is that the income you lose is a compensable loss in your personal injury claim. If you cannot work into the future, your lawyer can estimate your future lost income, as well.
Lost Wages from Car Crashes
If you are injured in a traffic crash, North Dakota is a no-fault insurance state. Your own no-fault insurance coverage should cover both medical expenses and lost wages, but does not cover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. You also have limits to this coverage, and your economic damages from serious injuries might exceed those limits.
If you meet certain thresholds, you can sue the at-fault driver for economic damages, such as lost wages, as well as non-economic damages, under North Dakota’s negligence law. Even if you don’t meet the minimum thresholds to file a lawsuit in a traffic crash, your attorney can fight for your own no-fault insurance to cover some money for lost wages within your policy limits.
Contact Our North Dakota Minnesota Personal Injury Lawyers for Assistance with Your Case
If you have been injured in the Fargo Moorhead area, in whatever fashion, as a result of the negligence of another person, you should explore your options for recovering damages such as medical bills and lost income. Talk to the personal injury legal team of O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys.
Our lawyers have the experience to recover the maximum compensation for your economic and non-economic losses. You can set up a free consultation with one of the firm’s experienced personal injury professionals, Tim O’Keeffe, Tatum O’Brien, or Sara Monson, today or call the firm at 701-235-8000 or toll-free at 877-235-8002.
