Recovering from a car accident isn’t always about broken bones or emergency surgeries. For many in Reno, NV, the real impact is lost income, especially when the accident disrupts work, even without visible injury.
At Kidwell & Gallagher | Personal Injury Lawyer Reno, we understand how frustrating it can be to lose your paycheck while trying to heal from a crash that wasn’t your fault. Whether you’re dealing with a mild concussion, whiplash, or stress that kept you from clocking in, you still have the right to recover lost wages from a car accident without injury.
Lost wages are any income missed by the accident, even without a physical injury. This includes time off for doctor’s visits, therapy, mental health recovery, or simply resting under medical advice. Pain, headaches, dizziness, or emotional distress can justify missing work. Lost wages may include:
In Nevada, non-physical injuries like anxiety or stress after an accident can lead to lost earnings when supported by a medical evaluation. It’s not always about what you see; accidents often cause hidden damage.
Strong documentation is the foundation of any wage loss claim. You must link your missed income to the crash to recover lost wages from a car accident without injury. Gather this evidence:
In Reno, this evidence helps prove to the insurer or a judge that your time off was medically necessary and financially real.
The process depends on who’s covering your losses: your insurer, the at-fault driver, or possibly your employer. Here’s what we guide clients through:
Nevada law doesn’t require visible injury to claim lost wages from a car accident without injury. You just need proof that the accident caused your time off.
Insurance companies often question wage loss claims, especially without visible injuries. They may say your symptoms are exaggerated or that your time off was unnecessary.
Claims involving lost wages from a car accident without injury face more scrutiny, so strong medical and employer documentation is essential. A consistent diagnosis and clear records can mean the difference between denial and compensation. We protect our clients from these tactics by:
According to Nevada Revised Statutes (435.670), medical expenses, even for outpatient or diagnostic care, may be recoverable if tied to the incident. This supports the broader principle that related losses, like wages, are legally grounded in Nevada.
It depends on whether you were working when the crash occurred. If your accident happened while performing job-related duties, like driving a company vehicle or making a delivery, your wage loss may fall under workers’ compensation.
As stated in Nevada Revised Statutes (616C.150), the injury must arise out of and during employment for a claim to qualify. That means your commute likely won’t be covered, but running work errands might also be covered.
Sometimes, a workers’ comp claim and a third-party injury claim can be filed together. That’s where legal guidance makes a real difference, so you don’t leave money on the table.
Losing income after a car accident, especially when you don’t have visible injuries, can feel overwhelming and unfair. At Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers | Personal Injury Lawyer Reno, we take these claims seriously. You worked for that paycheck, and we fight to get it back in your pocket.
Whether you missed one day or three weeks, let’s discuss your case and what your time is worth. Call us today at (775) 323-2667 to schedule your free consultation and get help recovering lost wages from a car accident without injury.
Craig W. Kidwell is the managing partner of Kidwell & Gallagher, Ltd., and exclusively represents injured workers in Nevada. Mr. Kidwell has been practicing workers’ compensation law in Nevada since 1999 and has acted as lead counsel on over 2,000 contested workers’ compensation claims. Mr. Kidwell represents injured workers in Nevada through all stages of Nevada’s complex worker’s compensation system. Craig regularly appears in all levels of Nevada’s administrative workers’ compensation system and has represented injured workers in Nevada’s districts and Supreme Court.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Managing Partner, Craig W. Kidwell who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.