What is Compensation For Lost Income?

In North Carolina, the law provides protection for many injury victims who lose wages or income as a result of their injury.  

If a workplace accident occurs, North Carolina workers’ compensation law allows for the injured worker to receive compensation for lost time once the worker has missed seven days of work. If the worker misses 21 days, then he or she is also entitled to receive lost wage compensation for those first seven days that he was initially not compensated for.

If any other type of accident occurs, compensation for lost income or lost wages can be paid by the person who caused the accident or, more commonly, by that person’s insurer. For example, if a motorist caused a car accident, that motorist’s auto insurer would provide compensation for lost wages to the victim.

The compensation for lost income or wages should provide payment for time that the victim missed work, or was forced to take sick time or vacation time. If the victim will experience a permanent decline in earnings due to lasting injuries, compensation for lost wages should compensate the victim for this long-term loss. All compensation for lost wages may be obtained as part of a negotiated out-of-court settlement for an injury claim or through a civil lawsuit.

If a person causes an accident through negligence or wrongdoing, and that accident is fatal, surviving family members can also be entitled to lost income. Under North Carolina General Statute 28A-18-2, a claim may be made for the income the deceased would have earned during his lifetime, had an untimely death not occurred.

Calculating appropriate compensation for lost wages or lost income can sometimes be challenging, especially in the case of permanent injuries or a fatality. A Charlotte, NC injury attorney can provide assistance in pursuing a claim for lost wages or income.