When a Buffalo resident is rendered unable to work – or is forced to take a position with lower pay – as a result of injuries sustained in a personal injury accident, he or she may seek compensation for future lost wages as part of a personal injury lawsuit.
The determination of future lost wages is a complicated issue and may be highly contested at trial. An expert may need to be hired to determine the total amount of lost wages based on lifespan, inflation and other factors that would be beyond the knowledge of a typical juror to calculate. In addition to future lost wages, lost benefits may also need to be considered when making this calculation.
Projected lifespan is a very important factor in determining future lost wages. New York courts have long accepted statistical mortality tables prepared by insurance companies as admissible evidence of lifespan. The courts have also noted, however, that these tables are only slight evidence of the life expectancy of a particular person and must be considered in light of the victim’s pre-injury health and personal habits.
If you have been injured in a personal injury accident and rendered unable to work, we would be happy to answer your questions. Please feel free to call us at 716-542-5444.
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