After a truck accident, it can take time to recover from the injuries you suffered. For many victims, this means needing to take time off from work to focus on recovering. Depending on the employer, some will not offer paid time off (PTO) in the form of sick or vacation days. If you are forced to use PTO while you recover, this can be part of your truck accident claim. The experienced truck accident attorneys at Northern Plains Justice, LLP can help you recover the compensation you deserve, including damages for PTO.
Recovering Compensation for Paid Time Off
In South Dakota, you may be able to recover damages from a truck accident that resulted in injuries. Common truck accident damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of future income
- Pain and suffering
Part of a settlement for truck accident damages may include compensation for lost income. PTO may be claimed as part of the damages. If you used sick or vacation days for reasons related to the truck accident, you may be compensated for the time you were forced to take. You may be required to take paid time off to deal with such things as medical appointments, therapy, or mental health reasons.
Since you will no longer have the PTO you used if you need it in the future for reasons not related to the truck accident, this can be considered lost income, even though you are being paid for the time off. To prove that PTO is a lost income claim, you will need to show that if it was not because of the accident, you would not have needed to take the sick or vacation days otherwise.
Valuing Paid Time Off
You may be able to recover compensation for paid time off if your employer forced you to use it due to reasons related to the truck accident. The amount of compensation you receive is typically equal to one day of income earnings. Each day you use will be calculated as such. A truck accident attorney will determine the amount of compensation you can claim as part of the settlement amount.
Do You Need a Truck Accident Attorney in South Dakota?
If you were injured in a truck accident and have questions about PTO, contact Northern Plains Justice, LLP for a consultation. To schedule an appointment to discuss your case, contact us online or call our office at 605-644-5003. We offer a free case evaluation to all clients, and you don’t pay unless we win your case!