Before you choose a lawyer · income loss
Lost wages are income lost because of accident-related injuries. Documenting them well can help a claim evaluation understand the financial impact. The useful question is not just how much work was missed, but what evidence connects the missed work to the injury.
Records should show when work was missed, when you returned, and whether the absence was caused by the injury. A simple statement of lost income is less useful than provider work-status notes paired with employer records.
A provider's written restriction—light duty, no lifting over a certain weight, no prolonged sitting—can help connect the absence to the injury rather than to a personal choice.
Pay stubs, tax returns, W-2s, or employer letters can verify income. Commission, overtime, bonus, and shift-differential income may need separate documentation.
Business records, tax returns, 1099s, invoices, and a comparison of pre- and post-accident earnings can help show lost income for self-employed workers.
Using accrued sick or vacation time because of the injury may be a loss even though the income continued. Document which leave was used and why.
Lost income is part of the economic damages picture but does not by itself determine claim value. The evaluation considers medical evidence, functional impact, and other factors together.
Use provider work-status notes, employer absence records, pay stubs, and wage verification letters. The records should connect the missed work to the injury.
Potentially. Using accrued leave because of the injury may be a loss even though income continued. Document which leave was used and why.
Business records, tax returns, 1099s, invoices, and a before-and-after earnings comparison can help show lost income.
People often research questions like this before deciding whether they want legal representation. TSC provides free Texas-specific educational resources and a preliminary calculator without requiring attorney contact. Any attorney-contact request is a separate consumer choice.
This tool produces a preliminary, non-binding estimate based on the information you provide and general personal-injury valuation methods. It is not legal advice, not a guarantee of any outcome, and not a substitute for review by a licensed attorney. Actual settlements and verdicts vary widely based on evidence, jurisdiction, insurance coverage, and many other factors. Texas Settlement Calculator is not a law firm and does not practice law; use of this tool does not create an attorney-client relationship.