The aftermath of an injury-causing accident can leave victims with many questions. In many cases, victims are justifiably concerned about how they are going to make a living, especially if there is some question as to whether they will be able to work in the same capacity as they did before the accident.
Fortunately, in cases where an accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, victims are typically entitled to compensation for their lost income – including the income they will lose in the future. In these cases, however, victims and their families must retain an experienced lawyer—once the case is over, it is nearly impossible to gain additional compensation.
What Kinds of Injuries Can Result in Disabling Conditions?
Unless you are in a highly specialized profession, it is highly unlikely that a relatively minor injury will prevent you from working again. For example, while a hand injury may put a neurosurgeon out of work, most of us would likely be able to return to work in a matter of weeks.
More serious injuries that can result in cognitive or physical disabilities, on the other hand, have the potential to end virtually any career. Injuries that have the potential to result in these kinds of disabilities include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Accidental Amputations
- Crush Injuries
- Anoxic brain injuries
The Complicated Task of Accounting for Future Losses
In cases involving permanent disabilities, much of the difficulty in reaching a settlement or calculating an award stems from the fact that it is necessary to establish how much the victim would have earned over the course of his or her career. It is not enough to simply take his or her salary and multiply it by the number of working years the victim had left – these kinds of calculations should also take into account regular raises, career advancement, retirement account performance, and inflations, among other factors. For this reason, it is highly advisable for victims to work with an attorney who is familiar with pursuing future losses and who has experience using actuarial or financial experts to establish empirically founded estimates of the amount of money a person would have made but for an accident. Failing to do so could result in hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in uncompensated losses.
Call Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Gwinnett County Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident that resulted in a disability that prevents you from working again, speak to an attorney as soon as you can. Any settlement or award that you receive must compensate you not only for the losses you have already sustained but also those that you will sustain in the future. Attorney David Brauns is a former insurance defense lawyer who knows the tricks and tactics that insurance companies use to devalue claims and also knows how to get them to play ball. To schedule a free consultation with Mr. Brauns, call us today at 404-418-8244 or send us an email through our online contact form.