Practice Areas

Jun 29, 2018 - Personal Injury by Cross & Smith

If you have suffered injuries in an accident due to another’s fault, then Alabama law may give you the right to recover damages to cover a range of different losses, including damages for the loss of future earning capacity.  Loss of future earning capacity is a unique damage claim that many injured plaintiffs are actually unaware of — unlike the standard wage loss claim, which is somewhat related, a damage claim involving the loss of future earning capacity is fundamentally uncertain. Loss of Future Earning Capacity is a Projection In Alabama, plaintiffs may be entitled to recover damages for their loss of earning capacity when their injuries are substantial enough to diminish their ability to earn. For example, if you are an office worker, but you suffer a severe back injury in a motor vehicle accident that renders you unable to work full-time, then you have likely had your future earning capacity diminished by your injury.  You would have to calculate the hours you are now capable of working (and what you’re capable of in the future) and compare the total earnings with what you would have otherwise been able to earn had you never been injured. There is an inherent uncertainty that accompanies damage claims for loss of future earning capacity.  As such, Alabama courts have emphasized that plaintiffs seeking to recover such damages must establish: Reasonable certainty of the injury at-issue; That the injury impaired the earning capacity of the injured plaintiff; and Sufficient evidence to allow for […]