Can I receive lost wages after a car accident?
Lucas Foust:
Hello, this is Lucas Foust from Foust Law Office and I'm here to answer another quick question. The quick question I'm here to answer is a question that I receive from people who have been in an automobile collision and who are injured badly enough that they're unable to return to work as a result of the injuries they have sustained. The question is this, how do I pay my lost wages or receive money for my lost wages to pay rent, to pay the mortgage, and other household expenses? Well under Montana law, Montana is unique and it's a very climate-friendly rule, that requires an insurance company, when liability is reasonably clear, to pay for lost wages for a person who's been injured as a result of the fault of another. So simply put, under Montana law, you can make a claim for lost wages before your case is even settled, and under Montana law that insurance company must pay you an amount equal to your lost wages.
Lucas Foust:
I spelled this out in more detail in my book, Abandoned on the Road: A Guide to Insurance Law in Montana. I encourage you to download a copy, or write us on our website and ask for a copy to be mailed to you. We'll send a copy to you, or you can download it from our website, and I encourage you to read the section that specifically covers lost wages. At Foust Law Office we believe that an informed client is a better client.