How to Get Compensation for Lost Wages in a Baltimore Personal Injury Claim When You’re Self-Employed
When accidental injuries happen in Baltimore, they can leave you unable to work for a long time afterward. When others are to blame, you may be entitled to payment for economic costs. Alongside medical bills and property damages, this includes compensation for your lost wages.
Calculating missed earnings is usually as simple as submitting pay stubs. However, if you are self-employed, the process is significantly more complex. Our experienced Maryland personal injury lawyers explain the challenges these victims face and how to get the compensation you deserve.
Why Getting Compensation for Lost Income is Harder When You’re Self-Employed in Baltimore
Personal injuries in Baltimore often happen due to motor vehicle crashes involving reckless drivers or from falls, getting struck by objects, or other incidents caused by negligent property owners. In the aftermath, you have the right to hold those at fault accountable under the Maryland Code.
This usually means dealing with insurers, who are quick to deny or downplay compensation for lost income when the victim is self-employed. Common reasons insurers use to challenge these claims include:
- Income when you’re self-employed often fluctuates month to month.
- You don’t have pay stubs or employer verification letters.
- There may be gaps or inconsistencies in financial record-keeping.
- If you are a contractor and service provider who only works at certain times of the year, seasonal income variations further complicate the calculation.
Self-employed individuals work hard to make a living. When car crashes and other accidents in Baltimore happen, overcoming insurer objections and getting the total amount needed to cover your current and future lost income is a top priority.
Proving Income From Self-Employment in a Baltimore Injury Claim
To get the compensation you need to recover from lost income in Baltimore, you need indisputable evidence of how much you make being self-employed. This includes:
- Federal tax returns for the two to three years before the accident.
- IRS 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC forms and copies of bank and payment app statements, invoices, and contracts with clients.
- Statements from clients confirming canceled or postponed work directly due to your injuries.
- Profit and loss statements from the past few years, future business plans, and other documents that can help calculate future lost income.
Keep in mind you only have one chance to get compensation in a Baltimore personal injury claim. To ensure any settlements include your total current and future lost income from self-employment, get professional legal help right away.
Schedule a Consultation With An Experienced Baltimore Personal Injury Lawyer
When personal injuries in Baltimore happen, getting the compensation you need to recover when you’re self-employed often proves challenging. At Maryland Injury Lawyers, we help clients gather the necessary documents and negotiate with insurers on their behalf to get the maximum amount they are entitled to in a claim.
If you are self-employed and were injured in a Baltimore accident, contact our office. Schedule a consultation with an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer today.
Sources:
dls.maryland.gov/pubs/prod/CourtCrimCivil/Negligence-Systems.pdf
irs.gov/instructions/i1099mec
