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Documenting missed work after a car accident
A clear record of dates, work arrangements and income can make a conversation about missed work more useful. Records help explain a loss; they do not establish that it will be paid.
By SettlementLift. Published · Updated .
Record the dates and work affected
Write down the days or hours missed and your usual schedule. Keep employer messages about absence, reduced hours or changed duties. Separate your own notes from documents supplied by an employer or professional. Avoid turning a rough recollection into an exact figure.
Keep pay and leave records
Save pay statements for the relevant period and available time or leave records. Ask your employer what documentation it can provide. Note whether income changed, leave was used or work was rescheduled. Ask the insurer or attorney what is relevant to the type of claim involved.
For self-employment, organize the underlying business records
Keep invoices, appointment calendars, canceled work and expense records that help explain the interruption. Gross revenue, expenses and net income are different measures. Label projected work separately from completed work and payments already received. Ask a professional how any estimate should be supported.
Ask how the loss will be evaluated
Ask which coverage or claim is being considered, who will review the documents and what remains missing. Ask your attorney whether past missed work and any future effect require different evidence. No universal daily amount or multiplier determines payment for everyone.
Keep expectations and costs separate
An insurer’s request for records does not establish approval. Keep written decisions and questions in your claim folder. If you consult a lawyer, discuss strengths, weaknesses, fees and expenses rather than relying on a promised recovery.
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