Loss of earning and Pension

Loss of Earnings Claim

It is possible to claim loss of earnings and to do so you will need to produce evidence to support any loss claimed. If you are employed (as opposed to self-employed or a business owner), the best way of doing this would be to produce wage slips for at least 6 months prior to the accident in order to show a detailed history of your earnings. If you wish to claim for lost overtime you will also need to show that this overtime would have been available to you if you had not been prevented from working because of your injuries, and that you regularly worked overtime prior to the accident.

The Court will usually assess your net average monthly wage for at least 3 months prior to the accident in order to calculate your average salary. In a straight forward claim this will be multiplied by your period of absence in order to calculate your loss of earnings claim.

It is important to note that your period of absence must be supported by the expert medical evidence in order to make a successful claim. You also have an ongoing duty to mitigate your losses, (i.e. keeping them to a minimum) and this includes returning to work when you are capable of doing so.

Self Employed Loss of Earnings Claim

If you are self-employed or a business owner, it is a little more complicated to prove a loss of earnings claim. It is important to notify your accountant at an early stage that you are absent and incurring a loss through your business. Ensure that you keep records of your working diary, invoices and details of contracts that you were unable to fulfil due to your injuries. Your accountant should be able to provide details of your accounts for at least 3 years prior to accident in order to adequately assess your net loss through the business.

Loss of Pension Claim and Ongoing Loss of Earnings

A particularly long period of absence could potentially result in a loss of pension claim. In more severe cases, the medical evidence will assess the impact of your injuries on your future capacity to work. Your claim could therefore include a claim for future loss or earnings or an award which aims to compensate you for any disadvantage you may suffer in your employment as a result of your injuries.

Your claim for special damages will be presented in a schedule called a “Schedule of Loss” and a copy of this schedule will be sent to your opponent’s insurance company or solicitor together with evidence in support.

Loss of earnings can often form a large part of a personal injury claims and if you are able to document your earnings and prove, by way of medical evidence, that you were justified in taking time off work following your accident, then you should be able to recover earnings lost as a result of your inability to work if your case is successful.

At Browell Smith & Co our expert Personal Injury Lawyers will guide you through your case and can liaise with your employer or accountant on your behalf.