When you meet with an auto accident you may suffer injuries, hospitalized and will be losing your wages. The important thing after the incident is to assess the injuries caused and later on check for damages caused to the vehicle as well as the cost involved in repairing the damages. Once all these issues are settled, you will be more concerned about other things like car insurance claims and lost wages. In case of severe injury, you will have a tough time with medical bills and probably remaining away from work for a short or long time. Apart from medical bills and car repairs, there are issues like lost wages which need your immediate attention. You may face lost wages from the date or time of accident till the time of full recovery. The main question is how to claim lost wages or who will pay wages for the lost period.
Check if your policy covers lost wages
In case of auto insurance policy, there are many policies which have different insurance covers that include lost wages. It is better to check with your insurance company or agent if your policy covers lost wages. In case your policy includes this coverage, then it should pay some or all of your lost wages based on the policy rules.
Procedures for claiming lost wages
There are procedures that should be followed while claiming lost wages. Immediately after the incident, it is important to inform your insurance company about the accident. There are different forms like ‘No Fault Application’ that should be filled and submitted along with a medical certificate from your physician listing your injuries. Also the doctor has to certify that on account of injuries caused, it would not be possible for you to work or report for duty till the time of recovery. This is to prove that the accident caused the loss of wages or income.
Along with this certificate, you will be required to submit a ‘Wage and Salary Verification’ form duly filled by your employer. On the basis of the documents submitted, the insurance company will start processing your claim for lost wages. While processing the claim, the insurance company will work out your weekly wages and will pay the full amount for the lost wages. The claim could take about 30 days to get processed.
In some cases, it may be necessary to sue the other party or their insurance company has to claim compensation for the lost wages. It is very important to negotiate properly with your insurance company to get the full amount for the lost wages for the entire period of your absence from work. In case of a dispute you can use the services of a lawyer with a success record in handling such cases.