As a crash victim, the injuries you sustained can affect your ability to earn a living, not just in the short term but for years to come. Being unable to perform job tasks that were once routine due to a physical limitation or mental challenges arising from your injuries can seriously hold back your earning potential.
In some instances, your injuries might prevent you from advancing in your career, while in others, you may have to consider a lower-paying job, reduce your working hours or even stop working entirely. It can be difficult to cover your living expenses, support your family or even save for retirement as you grow older with a diminished earning capacity.
Assessing your diminished earning capacity after an accident
The long-term impact of your injuries can ripple through the rest of your career, so it helps to look beyond the wages lost as you are recuperating. Several factors may come into play.
First in line is the severity and permanence of your injuries. Serious injuries that result in permanent disabilities, chronic pain or limited mobility can severely restrict the jobs you can perform or even take you out of the workforce.
If you suffered such life-changing injuries that significantly affect your mental and physical capabilities, other aspects to consider when evaluating the potential impact of an accident on your career include:
- Your age and career stage
- The nature of your job before the crash
- Your level of education and skills
- Your earning history and potential
Various other factors go into assessing your future economic losses, highlighting the importance of legal guidance to help ensure all aspects of your reduced earning capacity are properly addressed when seeking compensation after a car crash.