Your Lawyers for Life - Vol. 3 Issue 3

MontagnaLaw.com

Personal Injury

HOW DO YOU COLLECT LOST WAGES AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT? A car accident can leave more than physical scars. It can take a serious financial toll, especially when you’re forced to miss work while recovering. Whether you’re employed hourly or salaried, those days off can add up quickly. In Virginia, lost wages are not a standalone claim. Instead, they are one part of your total personal injury damages. To recover them, you’ll need solid evidence and a clear legal strategy. Virginia law permits the recovery of these wages as part of your personal injury damages if your absence from work was directly caused by accident-related injuries. But to qualify, your missed work must be supported by medical documentation. A doctor’s note stating that your injuries required time off work is not optional—it is the core of your lost wage claim. Even with employer support, insurance companies often require documented evidence to verify your income loss. That’s why hiring an attorney is key. Montagna Law can help you gather and organize the necessary records and communicate with your employer and healthcare providers to verify that everything lines up. How Are Lost Wages Calculated? If your wages are consistent, calculating your losses can be relatively simple. Multiply your daily wage by the number of workdays missed. But if your job includes overtime, tips, bonuses, or commission-based income, things become more complex. Each of these requires its own documentation. A car accident lawyer can help account for your full earnings, not just your base salary.

Is There a Deadline for When You Can Claim Lost Wages? Yes. In Virginia, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. Lost wages are part of that personal injury claim, not a separate legal action. Failing to file within that two‑year window could bar you from recovering damages related to the accident, including lost income. Montagna Law has built a strong reputation for helping accident. With decades of experience handling personal injury cases, our attorneys understand the stress, uncertainty, and financial pressure you may face after a serious accident. We take a client-first approach, listening to your concerns and tailoring our strategy to meet your needs. When you work with Montagna Law, you’re not just hiring a lawyer; you’re gaining a dedicated advocate who will stand by you from start to finish. Let us fight for the compensation you deserve so you can focus on your recovery and future. Call 877-622-8100 or fill out our online contact form. ■ To recover lost wages, you’ll need solid evidence and a clear legal strategy.

The Your Lawyers for Life Newsletter is a publication of Montagna Law. This publication is intended to educate the general public about the law and other issues. It is for information purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. The information in this newsletter may be freely copied and distributed as long as the newsletter is copied in its entirety. Design by Zine (www.zinemarketing.com). Copyright 2025 by Montagna Law. 3