Why Lost-Wage Paperwork Matters in a North Carolina Injury Claim
Lost wages are part of the financial harm an injured person may claim after an accident. Insurance adjusters usually want the lost-wage form to match objective records—like payroll, timekeeping, and work-status notes—so they can verify the time missed and the pay rate.
What Information to Put on a Typical Lost-Wages Form
- Your job details: Job title, whether you are hourly or salaried, and your normal schedule (for example, “Mon–Fri, 8 hours/day”).
- Pay information: Hourly rate or salary, plus any regular overtime, shift differential, commissions, or tips (only if they are part of your normal earnings and can be documented).
- Dates and time missed: List the specific dates you missed and the hours missed each day. If the form has a range, attach a separate page with a date-by-date breakdown.
- Reason for time missed: Keep it simple and accurate (for example, “unable to work due to accident-related restrictions” or “medical appointment related to accident”). Avoid guessing or adding extra details.
- Return-to-work status: The date you returned, whether you returned full duty or light duty, and any reduced hours.
How to List the Time You Missed (Full Days, Partial Days, and Appointments)
- Start with a calendar-style list: Write each missed workday on its own line (Date → Hours missed → Type of absence).
- Separate full days from partial days: A “missed day” is different from leaving early or arriving late. If you missed 3 hours for a medical visit, list it as 3 hours—not a full day.
- Include accident-related medical visits that caused missed work: If you missed work for treatment or follow-ups, list the work time missed (not the appointment time).
- Track light duty or reduced hours: If you worked fewer hours than normal, list the difference between your normal schedule and what you actually worked.
- Be consistent with your employer’s records: Your entries should match timecards, payroll, and attendance records as closely as possible.
How to Handle Sick Leave, PTO, and Vacation Time
Many people use PTO or sick time so they can keep getting a paycheck while they recover. On the form, it is usually better to disclose that you used PTO/sick time rather than leaving it out. Even if you were paid, the paperwork may still need to show that you had to use earned time because of the accident. If the form has a box for “paid time off used,” fill it in. If it does not, add a note or attachment.
What Your Employer Usually Needs to Complete
Most lost-wage forms work best when the employer completes the verification section (or provides a separate letter) confirming:
- Your rate of pay and typical schedule
- The dates/hours you missed
- Any overtime history (if relevant and documented)
- Whether you used PTO/sick leave and how much
If you are self-employed, insurers often want different proof (for example, tax documents or business records) instead of a form you fill out yourself.
Medical-Records Authorization: What Signing It Usually Does (and What to Watch)
A medical-records authorization is designed to let your law firm request medical records and related documentation from your treating provider to support the claim. In plain English, signing it generally allows the provider to release relevant records to the law firm so the claim can be documented.
- What it helps with: Connecting the missed work to the injury timeline and supporting the need for time off or restrictions.
- What to review before signing: The date ranges, the types of records covered, and who is allowed to receive them. If anything looks broader than necessary, ask questions before you sign.
- Keep a copy: Save a photo or PDF of what you signed for your records.
Common Mistakes That Can Create Problems
- Estimating instead of listing exact dates/hours: “About two weeks” is harder to verify than a date-by-date list.
- Mixing wage loss with other expenses: Keep lost wages separate from mileage, medical bills, or other costs unless the form specifically asks.
- Not matching payroll records: If your list conflicts with timecards, it can slow the claim down.
- Overlooking reduced-hours losses: Many wage losses come from shorter shifts or light duty, not just full days missed.
How This Applies
Apply to the facts: Since you received a wage-loss form and you are unsure how to list missed time, start by writing a simple date-by-date list of every full day and partial day you missed, including time missed for accident-related appointments. Then ask your employer to complete the verification section (or provide a payroll-backed statement) so the numbers match their records. If you sign the medical-records authorization, it generally allows the law firm to request records and verification from your treating provider to support the insurance claim.
What the Statutes Say (Optional)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 – sets a three-year limitations period that commonly applies to personal injury actions in North Carolina.
Conclusion
To fill out a lost-wages form after an accident, focus on clarity and proof: list exact dates and hours missed, separate full days from partial days, and make sure the information lines up with payroll and attendance records. If you used PTO or sick time, disclose it so it can be evaluated correctly. If you are asked to sign a medical-records authorization, it typically allows your law firm to request the medical documentation needed to support the claim. Your next step is to gather your time records and send your employer a request to complete the verification.
