Can I Recover Compensation for Lost Income in My Florida Personal Injury Case if I Am Self-Employed?
After suffering severe injuries in an accident, such as a Florida car accident, taking time off to recover is often necessary. Missing work because of an accident can be devastating. Whether you are an employee or self-employed, missing work because of an accident can make it hard for you to cater to your needs and those of your family members. However, if you are self-employed, you may be facing a heavier burden since you don’t have an employer who might provide paid leave. You can only rely on yourself. Fortunately, like employees, self-employed individuals in Florida are entitled to recover compensation for lost income if another person’s negligence caused their accident. However, it may be more challenging for a self-employed accident victim to recover compensation for lost income. Proving lost income if you are self-employed can be difficult. That is why, if you were injured in an accident as a self-employed individual and believe another person’s negligence is to blame for your accident, you should retain a skilled personal injury lawyer.
Employee vs. Self-Employed
An employee is someone who has been hired by another company to perform a service. On the other hand, a self-employed individual works as a freelancer, business owner, or independent contractor of another company. Both employed and self-employed individuals can suffer injuries. And when a self-employed individual suffers an injury, they may need to take time off work to recover, just like an employee would. This might result in a self-employed individual losing earnings or profits. Other forms of income a self-employed individual may lose due to an injury include contracts and business opportunities.
Proving Lost Income as a Self-Employed Accident Victim
It may be more challenging for a self-employed individual to prove lost income than it is for an employee. For an employee, they typically need to provide pay stubs from their company to prove lost income. Self-employed individuals don’t have traditional pay stubs. However, proving lost income as a self-employed individual is possible. Examples of pieces of evidence you can use as a self-employed individual to prove lost income include the following;
- Tax returns
- Business records
- Invoices
- Bank statements
- Profit and loss statements
- Payments through platforms such as PayPal and Venmo
The goal is to demonstrate the income you were making before your injury.
Medical records are also quite crucial. To recover compensation, you must show how your injury has impacted your ability to work. Medical records can help you do this. If, for example, you are a freelance photographer and rely on your arms and hands to work, an injury to your arm or hand could be detrimental to your ability to work. You’ll need to provide medical records showing the extent of your injury and how it has affected your ability to use your arm or hand.
Contact Us for Legal Help
A qualified Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney from The Pendas Law Firm can be vital to securing the compensation you deserve if you are a self-employed individual who has suffered an injury because of another party’s negligence. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss your case.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Miami, Orlando, Ocala, Bradenton, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Tampa, Jacksonville, Naples, and Melbourne areas.
