By Dan Baldyga
Several years ago I wrote an article, for the great Dr. Langlitz, which he published, regarding the handling of your claim for LOST WAGES. Since then I’ve been asked so many questions about that subject matter I’ve decided it would be wise to go into even greater depth and provide you, the reader of this outstanding publication, with deeper insights into this most crucial aspect of your motor vehicle personal injury insurance claim.
GENERALLY SPEAKING: If you're claiming five weeks of lost wages, and your
Medical Record shows you were discharged in three, you're chances of collecting
for those other two weeks is minus-zip. HOWEVER: Assuming your
Final Medical Report has been written accurately (and it clearly
states 5 weeks) that's money in the bank!
SICK LEAVE OR VACATION TIME: If you had to take sick leave, or vacation
time, during the time you missed from work, it's absolutely part of your
claim. Never forget you would have been entitled to use that sick leave and/or
vacation time, - - later on down the road - - when you needed or wanted it.
If you're forced to take either, because of a motor vehicle accident, it's
the same as losing the pay itself. Don't let Adjuster Henry Hard-Nose
tell you any different!
LOSS OF PAY: If your Lost Wage Document, which was executed by the company you work for, states that you didn’t work during the same period you were being treated by your Chiropractor, that’s all the proof you need to be compensated for your “lost earnings”. However, if your Chiropractor didn’t treat you any longer after a certain date (even though stated and detailed in your Lost Wage Document) than your chances of recovery for your lost wages, after that particular date, are minus zip!
BACK TO WORK BUT STILL TREATING: If you’ve returned to work, but you’re still being treated, that Lost Wage Document should clearly state the date and hours you missed when you had to leave work and make those day trip's to receive treatment.
BACK TO WORK BUT NOT AT YOUR USUAL, NORMAL, ROUTINE ASSIGNMENT: During my
38 years in the business of insurance claims I very often ran into a situation
where the claimant insisted they were unable to return to their old job
and this caused them to have a lesser income. However, there were many times
when the only proof of this was their verbal contention and that was
unacceptable. That’s why it’s so very important (should this apply to you and
your work/income situation) that this is clearly spelled out , by
the company where you’re employed, in their Lost Wage Report. An official
notation on the bottom of the document, stating this to be true, can save you a
lot of grief, and should provide you with a ton of money!
LOSS OF OVERTIME PAY: The overtime you lost is a legitimate claim. Get a
letter from your employer spelling out the amount of money you lost in overtime.
They can do this by taking a look at last years income, during the same period
you were laid up, then figuring out the overtime income you lost, for that
identical space in time. Once this has been determined this too should be
written into your Lost Wage Report.
ONE LAST WARNING: The inside claims people at Rock Solid Insurance and
adjusters like Henry Hard-Nose are buried alive with thousands of claimants who
are going through a great deal of ""Pain and Suffering", and they just don’t
have the time to properly consider the seriousness of what you‘ve had to deal
with, no matter how legitimate it may be.
QUESTION: "How does Dan know ? ANSWER: Because, "He's been there and done that" .
HOWEVER, if you follow what I've laid out above, you'll stay ahead of them, win the ball game and be justifiably awarded all the lost wage damage's that are truly owed to you.
Copyright (c) 2005 By Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved
DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article
'MORE ON LOST WAGES" is to help people understand the motor vehicle
accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga, Dr.George Laglitz III, nor
PHYSICIANS PLUS.com make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever;
NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal
service; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster,
or claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is
desired it is the INDIVIDUAL'S RESPONSIBILITY to obtain said
services.
Dan Baldyga's third and latest book Auto Accident Personal Injury
Insurance Claim (How To Evaluate and Settle Your Loss) can be found on
the internet at
http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com or
http://www.caraccidentclaims.com. This book reveals how to handle your
property damage claim so you won't be taken advantage of. It also goes into
detail regarding BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident
Settlement Evaluation Formula). THE BASE FORMULA explains how
to determine the value of the "Pain and Suffering" you endured - - because of
your personal injury!