Lost Wages and Income After a Car Accident

When the Paychecks Stop: The Hidden Cost of a Crash

Nobody expects their income to vanish overnight. But after a car accident, that’s exactly what happens to a lot of folks. You’re just clocking in, running errands, and making plans. Then suddenly, you’re hurt, stuck at home, and your paycheck is gone. Just like that. It’s overwhelmingly scary.

Car accident attorneys know how quickly a crash can disrupt your job, routine, and sense of control. At Horn Wright, LLP, the legal team knows how fast that spiral can start. If an injury has thrown your life off course, our attorneys are ready to help you get back what’s yours. Laws vary a bit from state to state: New York’s no-fault system limits how much wage loss you can recover, Maine and Vermont offer more flexibility, and New Hampshire? It all hinges on proving who caused the crash.

More Than Missed Paychecks: Income Loss You Didn’t See Coming

Sure, you expected a hit to your bank account after the accident. But what most people don’t realize is the impact goes way beyond just a few missed shifts.

New York Insurance Law § 5102 spells out what counts as “basic economic loss.” The wage reimbursement cap is $2,000 a month and only for up to three years. That doesn’t always come close to covering what you really lose.

Think about everything tied to your job. Maybe you were about to get a raise. Maybe a seasonal bonus was around the corner. Maybe you’ve got freelance gigs lined up, or tips you count on to keep things afloat. All that income? It matters.

Victims who fail to submit clear wage documentation often miss out on those additional earnings, not because they don’t deserve them, but because the paper trail wasn’t there.

Here’s a better breakdown of what you can claim:

• Missed wages — The money you’ve already lost.
• Future income — If you’ll be out of work for a while, it adds up.
• Lost bonuses or promotions — Milestones missed still count.
• Freelance or gig pay — Your side hustle is real income.
• Self-employment losses — Missed clients, projects, or revenue.

If you're juggling side gigs, managing multiple streams of income, or relying on app-based platforms to make ends meet, your earnings may not fit neatly into a single pay stub. That doesn’t make them any less real. It just makes proving them a little more complicated.

Paper Trails and Paychecks: How to Back Up What You’ve Lost

You know what you’ve lost, but insurance companies want proof. Not guesses. Not assumptions. But actual documentation.

New York’s Regulation No. 68 makes it clear that you’ve got 90 days to submit your wage loss proof. Miss that deadline, and your claim could take a serious hit.

Injured New Yorkers who put off collecting key employment documents often run into serious trouble when it's time to prove lost income. Without solid records, the value of your claim can take a major hit.

So what’s worth gathering?

• Pay stubs or W-2s — Establishes what you earned before the accident.
• Tax returns — Critical for freelancers or those with multiple jobs.
• Letters from employers — Verifies dates missed and your role.
• Gig invoices, timesheets, app screenshots — Show consistent work history.

Canceled contracts, last-minute gig cancellations, and past bank deposits can all help paint a fuller picture of what you’ve actually lost. These can be the difference between a denied claim and getting the full amount you’re owed. When you’ve got a solid, detailed paper trail, it’s a lot harder for the insurance company to challenge your truth.

What Happens If You Can’t Return to Work?

Not every injury heals in a few weeks. Sometimes, it changes everything, how you move, how long you can sit, or whether you can even do your job at all.

That’s more than just lost time. That’s a long-term shift in your earning power. And if you’re wondering what that looks like down the road? You’re not alone.

These are the tools used to calculate future loss:

• Vocational assessments — Measures what jobs you’re still qualified to do.
• Economic forecasting — Projects how much income you’ll miss out on long-term.

Disc herniation, spinal trauma, and similar back injuries can end careers in physically demanding industries. That means switching careers or leaving the workforce altogether.

Car accident attorneys often turn to these evaluations because they paint a much clearer picture of how your life, and your ability to earn a living, has changed. They connect the dots between what you could do before the crash, what you’re able to do now, and what that means for your future.

The Insurance Playbook: Why They Push Back on Lost Time

Insurance companies know exactly what they’re doing. Their job is to pay out as little as possible, not to protect your future.

Insurers frequently challenge vague or delayed claims, especially when documentation is incomplete or unclear.

Be on the lookout for common lines like “You should’ve gone back to work sooner,” “Your injuries don’t match the time you missed,” “We don’t have proof of lost gigs or bonuses,” “You’re inflating your income,” or “You took too long to respond.”

If you rely on gig work or have an unconventional income stream, they’ll try to minimize it. But your time is worth just as much as anyone else’s.

From Paychecks to Proof: How to Recover What’s Yours

Losing income after an accident creates intense stress and throws your entire budget off balance. You worked hard for that paycheck. You counted on it. And now? It’s gone, just like that.

You may be entitled to much more than your base wage. That includes hourly or salary losses, unpaid bonuses or commissions, missed overtime, canceled contracts or jobs, and reduced earning ability over time.

You won’t receive compensation for any of it unless you can back it up with proof. People who’ve faced serious income loss after a crash have successfully recovered compensation by building a clear, thorough case with documentation that tells the full story and expert support to validate every lost dollar.

Don’t Let a Crash Write Your Financial Future

A crash can upend everything, especially your finances. When the checks stop, the bills don’t. And that pressure? It builds fast. If you’ve lost income after a car accident, now’s the time to understand your options. Contact Horn Wright, LLP, to speak with car accident attorneys who know how to protect your time, your effort, and your future.