Can I claim lost wages as part of my personal injury settlement?

Yes. Lost wages are a standard component of economic damages in a personal injury claim. You are entitled to recover income you have already lost due to your inability to work during recovery, as well as future lost earnings if your injuries reduce your capacity to work long-term. To claim past lost wages, you will need documentation from your employer confirming your salary or hourly rate, your normal hours, and the time you missed. Self-employed individuals can use tax returns, contracts, and business records to establish income loss. For future lost earnings, an economic expert typically projects the difference between what you could have earned without the injury and what you can now earn given your limitations, discounted to present value. Lost benefits (health insurance, pension contributions, vacation accrual) may also be recoverable. Keep detailed records of every day of work you missed and obtain a physician's note documenting your inability to work.