What is Lost Earnings Caused by New York Medical Malpractice?

Laws, Medical Malpractice Mistakes

When a victim of New York medical malpractice is so seriously injured that he or she may not be able to work again, the victim is entitle to lost wages.  This is the amount of money that is lost during the recovery time.  This includes from being in too much pain to work, being unable to work due to the injury, having appointments requiring time away from work, and other issues. 

Lost earnings, however, is different than lost wages.  Lost wages is what is actually lost at the time due to the New York medical malpractice.  Lost earnings is what is lost in the future due to the inability to return to the same job or career.  This is because the injuries caused by the negligent healthcare resulted in such serious injuries that the victim can no longer work at the same place or hold the same job.

For instance, if a worker was a laborer doing construction work, and the New York medical malpractice resulted in the loss of both feet due to sepsis, that worker will no longer be able to work as a laborer in construction.  Perhaps instead the worker now has to work as a cashier.  If the worker was earning $70,000 as a construction worker and had to take a job as a cashier earning only $20,000 a year, the worker will have lost earnings of $50,000 a year for the rest of his or her life.  If the individual is 30 years old, the work-life expectancy would be to 65 years old and 35 years remaining.  Thus, the lost earnings are actually $1.75 million!

This is just for lost earnings and is a rather significant figure.  It can be a massive part of a lawsuit in certain instances.  But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.