One of the most significant yet often overlooked consequences of a car crash is the potential impact on your future earning capacity. Even after you recover from the immediate physical injuries, the long-term effects can limit your mental or physical abilities and affect your ability to earn a living.
Understanding how an accident can reduce your future earning potential is essential for planning a path forward and seeking the compensation you are entitled to as a crash victim.
Physical limitations and career adjustments
It can be difficult, if not impossible, to return to your job due to your injuries. For instance, if your job requires physical labor, you might find it hard to continue in that role. Even in less physically demanding jobs, the limitations of your injuries could reduce your productivity.
As a result, you may be forced to reduce your working hours or switch to different, often lower-paying, positions. Additionally, the time spent in recovery means missing out on promotions, raises and other career advancement opportunities that could have significantly increased your earning potential.
The psychological effects of your injuries can also make it difficult to perform even routine tasks. Your job performance could suffer if you struggle with concentration, decision-making, stress management or interpersonal skills due to the emotional toll of the accident.
Seeking compensation for lost earning capacity
Accurately assessing reduced earning capacity can be challenging due to the unique aspects of individual situations. Various factors go into determining the impact of an accident on your future earning capacity. They include:
- Your age, health and work expectancy
- Your pre-accident earnings
- Your career path
- Transferable skills and potential job opportunities, among others
Seeking legal guidance can get you an informed assessment of the full scope of your losses and help you protect your interests when pursuing compensation.