Detailed Answer

This section explains how to calculate lost wages you can claim after a minor neck or back injury when you missed work for emergency room (ER) care and subsequent physical therapy (PT). The steps below apply to most Connecticut personal-injury claims (car crash, slip and fall, third-party negligence) and to many first-party insurance claims. This is a practical, step-by-step approach you can use to prepare a claim and to talk with an insurer or attorney. This is not legal advice.

Overview: what “lost wages” means

Lost wages are the earnings you actually lost because your injury and its treatment forced you to miss work. That typically includes:

• Hourly pay for hours you did not work;
• Salaried pay for whole or partial days you could not work;
• Overtime or shift differentials you would have earned but missed;
• Average commissions, tips, or bonuses you lost because you were not working;
• For self-employed people, the business earnings you would have kept but lost (documented by tax returns and books).

What you do NOT usually claim

You generally do not claim pain and suffering as “wages,” and you should separate paid leave (sick or vacation) from uncompensated lost income when you present the number. If you used paid leave and your employer did not dock pay, you probably did not lose actual wages — although you may still claim reimbursement for lost leave in some cases; discuss that with counsel.

Step-by-step calculation

1. Gather proof of how much you earn: recent pay stubs, timesheets, W-2s, offer letter, employment contract, or a letter from your employer confirming your rate and typical hours.
2. Document each day/time you missed: ER arrival and discharge times, PT appointment dates and durations, and any medical notes that show you were advised not to work for a period. ER and clinic records often show arrival and discharge times; these are useful.
3. Calculate hourly employees: Multiply hours missed by your hourly rate. If you normally work overtime and regularly earn overtime during that period, include it (use historical pay records to prove overtime was likely).
4. Calculate salaried employees: Convert salary to a daily or hourly equivalent. Common method: annual salary ÷ 52 weeks ÷ number of workdays per week = daily rate. Multiply daily rate by days (or fractions of days) missed. Example: $60,000/year, 5-day week → $60,000 ÷ 260 workdays = $230.77 per day.
5. Calculate commissions/tips/bonuses: Use a reasonable average based on prior months (3–12 months is common). If you can show a pattern (monthly sales or tips), claim that average for the workdays missed.
6. Self-employed/business owners: Use your profit (not simply gross receipts). Provide tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, invoices, and bank deposits. Show the specific work lost (e.g., a canceled job) and how it reduced income.
7. Add related, reasonable time losses: Count travel time to ER and PT if that travel cost you work time. Keep travel logs and appointment records. Reasonable rounding is acceptable (e.g., to nearest 15 minutes), but document accurately.
8. Subtract payments you actually received: If an employer paid you while you were out, or short-term disability paid a portion, list those amounts separately. Your net recoverable lost wages typically equal what you actually lost out-of-pocket.
9. Show mitigation: Demonstrate you made reasonable attempts to return to work or to reduce losses (e.g., changed shifts, worked lighter duties, or accepted partial work). Courts and insurers expect mitigation.

Example calculations

Make calculations clear and show your math when you present a claim.

Example A — Hourly worker: Hourly rate $20. ER visit caused you to miss 8 hours. PT appointments (3 visits) each cost 2 hours of work including travel = 6 hours. Total hours lost = 14 hours. 14 × $20 = $280 lost wages.

Example B — Salaried employee: Salary $60,000/year (5-day workweek). Daily rate = $60,000 ÷ 260 = $230.77. If you missed one full workday for ER and one half day for PT, lost wages = $230.77 + $115.38 = $346.15.

Example C — Self-employed: You normally bill $400/day and had a one-day client meeting canceled because of an ER visit and two half-day jobs missed due to PT. Lost revenue = $400 + (2 × $200) = $800. From that, subtract direct expenses saved; document via invoices and bank statements.

Documentation you should collect

• Pay stubs and W-2s for recent months;
• Employer statement or letter confirming missed time and pay status;
• ER records showing arrival and discharge times;
• Physical therapy attendance records and notes;
• Appointment confirmations, receipts, and travel logs;
• For self-employed: tax returns (Schedule C), invoices, bank records, and bookkeeping reports;
• Any correspondence showing whether you were paid sick/vacation pay for the missed time.

How insurers and courts treat taxes and paid leave

Insurers sometimes negotiate using net (after-tax) figures; courts vary. Your presentation should show gross earnings and then clearly show taxes and deductions so a reader can convert to net if needed. If you used paid leave to cover time off, explain whether your leave was deducted or preserved; insurers often argue you did not “lose” pay if your employer paid you from sick/vacation time. You can still include a claim for lost leave value in some situations, but recovery depends on facts and local rules, so consider a lawyer’s opinion.

Common proofs insurers ask for in Connecticut

• Copies of paystubs and a recent W-2;
• An employer letter confirming dates missed and pay status;
• Medical records (ER and PT) showing appointments dated and timed;
• Tax returns or 3–12 months of bank statements for self-employed claimants;
• Documentation of commissions or tips (monthly reports, credit card slips, or employer records).

When it’s worth speaking with an attorney

If the wage loss is substantial, the insurer disputes your claim, you used paid leave and want to recover its value, or the other party denies liability, consult an experienced Connecticut personal-injury attorney. An attorney can help convert business losses into a convincing claim, negotiate with insurers, and advise about litigation if necessary.

Connecticut resources

Find general Connecticut court information and consumer resources at the Connecticut Judicial Branch: https://www.jud.ct.gov/. For help locating a lawyer, see the Connecticut Bar Association: https://www.ctbar.org/.

Helpful Hints

• Start documenting immediately: keep appointment confirmations, ER discharge papers, and notes about who paid you for missed time.
• Ask your employer for a short written note confirming your job title, pay rate, typical hours, and exact dates/times you missed.
• Keep a daily pain/activity log showing how treatment affected your ability to work; this supports partial-day loss claims.
• For tips/commissions, use the average from the prior 3–12 months rather than guessing a future amount.
• If you are self-employed, preserve invoices and client emails showing canceled work and lost opportunities.
• Always show the math. Round nothing without showing how you rounded (for example: 1.25 hours rounded to 1.25; or note if you rounded to nearest quarter-hour).
• Keep separate records for wage loss and for medical bills — both are damages but they are documented differently.
• If you used paid leave to cover the time, understand your employer’s policy before claiming lost wages; ask HR for written confirmation.