I was in a car accident- how do I get my lost wages paid?

After a car accident, the law in Pennsylvania says that you can recover for lost wages. This means that you have to show that you were disabled from work by your doctor and that you missed work. Say, for example, you were in a car accident where you were rear-ended on Route 100, Route 422, Ridge Pike, or Route 23. You have car insurance and so does the at-fault driver. First, you need to check your own policy. Ask your insurance company if you have "no fault" (also called "first-party") wage loss. If so, after the standard 5-day deductible, your insurance would pay your lost wages month-to-month. But, if you don't have wage loss coverage, or your wage loss coverage isn't enough to cover all of your wages, then you would be pursuing wage loss against the at-fault insurance company. The downside is that the at-fault company typically won't pay your wages without a full release (you don't want to sign any release without a lawyer and without knowing that you are ending all rights to all claims).

The two things the insurance company will require to pay your lost wages will be:
(1) a disability note from your treating doctor; and
(2) a wage verification from you employer indicating your salary/wages/number of hours per week (or sometimes the insurance company will simply accept a pay stub or your W-2).

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

David Schreiber
610-792-3304
deschreiber@thomaswolpert.com

Hurt Back in Car Accident in Collegeville- Insurance Company Won't Pay

If you were rear ended or in a car accident in Collegeville, Phoenixville, Limerick, or Royersford, and you are facing an insurance company who won't pay, you still have options. Maybe the insurance company is State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide, or Erie? Those are 4 of the most common insurance companies in this area.

1. First, send a letter or fax to the at-fault insurance company simply asking that they respond in writing with their reason for not paying.

2. Consider getting a consultation with a lawyer who specializes in personal injury law. You should be able to get a free consult. Our firm does free consults.

3. You should get a copy of your own medical records (often, you can get your medical records from the car accident from your own insurance companay- since they pay the medical bills up to the limits of your medical coverage- they will have those records.

4. You should make a list of witnesses - there are two types of "lay" (non expert) witnesses for injury cases. One is a witness to the actual car accident. A police report would list any witnesses identified at the scene by the police. A second type of lay witness would be people who have known you before and after the accident who have seen any differences in you physically since the accident. These could be co-workers, clergy, friends.

5. Request a copy of your own insurance company's policy and "declarations" page (the page listing all the coverages).

6. Go to the doctor if you are having symptoms and follow their instructions. This will help you get better and you have paid for the coverage on your policy for medical bills.

If you have any questions feel free to contact us.

David Schreiber
(610) 792-3304