If you were hurt in an accident that was someone else's fault, you're probably seeking restitution for your medical bills. What you may not realize is that you can also get restitution for lost earnings. Being compensated for lost earnings can be a complicated process, but the more you understand about that process, the easier it becomes. Here's what you need to know before you reach out to your personal injury lawyer.

Lost Earnings Can Mean A Lot Of Things

When it comes to personal injury law compensation, the phrase "lost earnings" can refer to a lot of things. Understanding all of what lost earnings can consist of is the first step to ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve. 

Lost wages is one component of this claim. This includes the earnings you lost from the work time you've missed as a direct result of the accident. Whether you had any time in the hospital or have been kept out of work for recovery, the income you would have earned during those missed workdays will qualify as lost wages, and you can seek restitution for that.

Lost earnings can also include future wages if you're going to be out of work for a long time or if you won't be able to return to work at all.

In addition, if you will be able to return to work, but won't be able to work in the capacity that you did before, you can seek restitution to offset the reduction in earnings that you will face going forward as a result of the injury. 

Lost Earnings Must Be Proven

In order to get the compensation for your lost earnings, no matter which categories you're pursuing, you'll have to prove those figures in court. There are a few key ways that you can do this, so make sure that you take time to gather the documentation or witnesses that you need.

For example, you can prove current lost wages by submitting a letter from your employer, printed clearly on company letterhead, that details the earnings you've lost. You can also use your most recent pay stubs and bank statements to show what your earnings are, and to prove that you didn't have earnings for the period in question.

As far as future earning potential, you'll have to have documentation of your inability to return to work and the income that you can anticipate generating during that period if you were able to work. 

Finally, proving an earnings reduction may mean having to bring in an industry expert who can testify as to the difference between what you make in your current role as compared to what you can make in your newly limited position. This expert testimony can help to justify your financial claim.