Uber Accident Cases and Lost Wages Compensation
Las Vegas, Nevada
Lost wages claims in Nevada
If you are a driver, passenger, or bystander injured in an accident that involved an Uber or Lyft car and you lost income because you couldn't work after the accident, call us at 702-432-1000 and ask to speak with an Uber accident attorney.
We helped many Uber accident victims get fair compensation to pay for their medical bills (past, present, and future), lost wages, damaged property, and pain and suffering.
We don't charge for consultations.
Calculating the dollar amount of lost wages
If you drive for Uber or Lyft, calculating lost wage damages is more straightforward than most people think. Uber and Lyft keep detailed records of each trip the driver makes and how much money the driver earns daily and monthly. These records will become the basis for calculating the lost wages.
If you are a passenger or pedestrian employed at the time of an accident, attorneys will use your pay stub to calculate the lost wages.
What else is involved
In evaluating accident claims, the attorneys look into:
- Who was at fault during the crash?
- The at-fault driver insurance coverage.
- Can the at-fault driver insurance pay all liability claims?
The maximum policy limit plays an essential part in accident liability claims. The policy limit is different in different US states. In Nevada, in 2021, the policy limit for Uber or Lyft was $1.5 million.
How insurance works
If you are an Uber driver or a Lyft driver, by now, you probably already know how their accident coverage works. Uber's or Lyft's accident policy is in effect only when the driver is "on the job" (has a passenger during the accident or is on the way to pick up the passenger).
When the driver uses the car for personal trips, the driver's private car insurance takes effect. Usually, this insurance has a low policy limit and may not be enough to cover all liability claims.
Can an insurance company refuse to pay the lost wages?
An insurance company will challenge your claim if they can prove that after being injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, you intentionally delayed getting back to work so you could claim more downtime days and collect higher lost wages compensation.
Self-employed passengers or pedestrians in Nevada
Typically, to calculate the dollar amount of the lost wages for self-employed individuals, attorneys look at a victim's filed income tax for the last three years and calculate the average amount of earnings.
If you were a passenger or a pedestrian injured in an Uber accident or Lyft accident, and you were self-employed at the time of a crash, we will do our best to calculate your lost wages. Income and business expenses for self-employed often fluctuate from to month-to-month. Still, if you were paying a salary to yourself, the dollar amount of your wages will become the basis for calculating your lost wages. If you need more information, call our office at 702-432-1000 and ask to speak with the Uber accident attorney.
Lost wages when temporary unemployed in Nevada
If you were temporarily unemployed during the crash, you might still be eligible to get reimbursed for your lost earnings. Whether you are a passenger or a pedestrian injured in an accident that involved an Uber driver or Lyft driver doesn't matter. The question becomes, then, how long were you unemployed before the accident? If you were unemployed for many years before the crash or never employed, the insurance company will most likely refuse to pay the lost wages portion of your settlement.
If you have more than one job
All your jobs play a part in calculating the total amount of lost income. It could be one, two, or three jobs. The lost income, in this case, is a sum of salaries earned from all your jobs.
Are lost wages taxable?
Yes. The lost wages or lost earnings part of a personal injury settlement is taxable. Think this way - when you worked, the income you earned was taxable. When you got injured in an accident and couldn't work, the at-fault driver insurance reimburses you for your lost wages. After receiving this reimbursement, you have to pay taxes on your compensation the same way you would have paid taxes on your earned income. The IRS provides detailed instructions on how taxes are paid when a person receives the lost wages compensation as part of their settlement. See the IRS article “Lost Wages and Taxability.”
Does not wearing a seat belt affect the lost wages claim?
In Nevada, the law is unclear on how wearing or not wearing a seat belt can impact your liability claim. In cases like this, the judge has to decide.
Do I need an attorney to file a lost wages claim in Nevada?
It depends on the amount that you claim. If the amount is small and you ask for lost wages reimbursement for one or two days of work, you can file the claim yourself.
But, if you couldn't work for a few months after the accident, if you have medical bills to pay and expect many medical bills in the future, an Uber accident attorney should negotiate your liability claim. In an accident with multiple vehicles and injuries, it is always better to hire an attorney who has experience handling these cases. Attorneys know how to deal with insurance companies; they are not afraid to challenge the low-ball settlement offers, and if necessary, will take your case to trial.
Uber accident lawyer can help
If you got injured in a car accident that involved an Uber or Lyft driver, call us at 702-432-1000 to discuss your case. We have helped dozens of clients to get fair compensation in accidents involving Uber or Lyft.
We work on a contingency basis, which means that we do not take any payment until you receive compensation. You will not incur any legal charges or costs for our time and assistance unless we do our job and earn you a settlement or trial verdict. This way, we have every incentive to maximize your recovery.
We serve clients in Las Vegas, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and the rest of Nevada.
Written by Parish Heshmati, Esq.
Last updated on January 3, 2024.
