GEICO, which stands for the Government Employees Insurance Company, is America’s second largest provider of auto insurance, next to State Farm. In spite of the word “Government,” GEICO is a private company that offers insurance policies for homeowners, businesses, renters, and more. As the victim of an accident that was caused by another party, you may be in the process of filing an insurance claim with GEICO. This may be a confusing and stressful time in your life, but we are here to help if you need answers to the following questions:
- Does GEICO have pay for your lost wages if I miss work after an accident?
- How do I prove that I am eligible for lost income due to my injuries?
- Can I get reimbursed for paid time off that was covered by my employer?
- What are my rights if GEICO refuses to pay me for missed time off at work?
Our lawyers are standing by if you are struggling to obtain payments that you are entitled to from an accident claim. We have been going up against insurance companies for many years, and we will not back down until you receive compensation from the responsible party. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
What Documentation do I have to Show to get Lost Wages Compensation from GEICO?
Like any other insurance provider, GEICO will require extensive evidence before they approve your request for lost wages. First, you will need evidence of the health issues that resulted from your accident, and how they impaired your ability to work. Then, you must make a clear and convincing case for the amount of income that was lost due to your recovery needs. Fortunately, you should have most of the documents you need, which include:
- Medical records from your doctor, specialists, and therapist, if applicable.
- Pay stubs or a wage statement from your job
- W2, or another type of tax form you receive from your employer
- Previous year’s tax returns
Depending on how seriously you are injured, medical and occupational experts may be needed to provide testimony of long-term economic losses. For example, if you are unable to return to work or need to reduce your hours, you may be entitled to future lost wages and loss of earning potential. We can locate these experts for you and fight for every penny you are owed.
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I’m Self-Employed. Can I be Reimbursed for Lost Wages?
You don’t have to earn a consistent income to qualify for lost wages. Freelance and independent work has been on the rise in recent years, and these people can suffer heavy losses if an accident causes them to turn down work opportunities. To prove a case for lost wages as a self-employed worker, you can use:
- Tax forms, like 1099s
- State and federal income tax returns
- Bank statements
- Proof of work you were forced to turn down
- Proof of prior assignments and pay rates (invoices, for example)
- Statements from third party payment apps (Cash App, Venmo, PayPal, etc.)
If you’re uncertain as to whether you have enough evidence, contact us and speak with one of our attorneys. We have helped many independent contractors throughout the years and know what it takes to build a strong case for lost income.
What if I had to Use Sick and Vacation Days after I was Injured?
This is a tricky area for many people, and if you were to ask GEICO, they’ll probably say that they don’t owe you for something you already got paid for. Yes, it’s true that paid time from your employer covers you for days you took off due to an illness, vacation, or other personal needs. But in those cases, you would have used the time at your discretion. When you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you are forced to use these benefits. Thus, you are entitled to reimbursement for paid time off (PTO) through an insurance claim with GEICO.
Keep in mind that if you have an emergency in the future, you may not have these days to rely on since you’ve already used them after your accident. That’s why it’s important to demand compensation for PTO and not settle for less than what you deserve.
Why is GEICO Refusing to Pay for my Lost Wages?
Claimants that reach out to us are surprised when GEICO refuses to pay for their lost wages, even though they’ve submitted all the necessary paperwork. However, we know how these companies operate, and claim denials are not unusual when you’re dealing with an insurance company. We’ve seen cases where the company had legitimate reason to deny a claim, but in most cases, it’s simply a matter of greed.
Insurance adjusters seem like they sympathize with the victim, but this is done to elicit information that can be used against you. That’s precisely why they reach out to you immediately after the accident. Hopefully, they can get to you and talk you into a low settlement before you speak with an attorney. Even if you stand your ground and demand the full value of your losses, an insurance company may act in ways to hold up your payment or deny you compensation altogether.
Can I sue GEICO for refusing to pay for my lost wages?
This is a question you may have asked yourself if you’re not getting anywhere with GEICO on your claim for lost wages. A bad faith insurance lawsuit may be possible, but you would have to prove that the company acted with intent to defraud you of payments that you are legally owed. Common insurance bad faith tactics include:
- Failing to provide a valid reason for why a claim was denied.
- Using misleading language to represent the law or terms of an insurance policy.
- Taking too long to conclude an accident investigation.
- Threatening legal action for the purpose of coercing the victim into a low settlement
- Bad faith negotiations, like consistently lowballing your settlement, even when there is irrefutable evidence of your injuries / losses.
We want to stress that there are other ways of handling insurance bad faith, which we can discuss with you during a free consultation. In fact, it’s unlikely that you will need to sue an insurance company if you’ve retained representation from an experienced attorney. But you can count on us to act immediately and fight to bring you justice if a lawsuit becomes necessary.
Do you need a Second Opinion on an Active Accident Claim?
You may have been to a doctor to verify a medical condition, but did you know that lawyers can also provide second opinions? We’ve been doing this for many years at our law firm. Clients sometimes come to us because they’re unhappy with their current lawyer and want to discuss the pros and cons of switching attorneys in the middle of a case. Others call us because they’re confused about their legal rights or feel uncertain about their attorney’s advice. Most commonly, claimants have the following questions for us during their consultation:
- How long will it take to settle my claim?
- What is the average settlement value for these cases?
- What is the statute of limitations if I want to file a lawsuit?
We are happy to review your claim and advise you in any areas that are of concern. If you’re interested in transferring your case to our office, we’ll take care of the entire process at no cost to you. However, educating you on our rights and legal options is our main objective, and the second opinion is free even if you choose to stay with your current lawyer. Contact us and schedule a time to speak with one of our attorneys.
Take Advantage of the Zero Fee Guarantee
In all honesty, most people don’t need to be told that a lawyer is their best ally if they plan on suing someone for monetary damages. The claims process is difficult to navigate, and you can be sure that the insurance adjuster is not your friend. What holds people back from calling a law firm is the cost of legal fees, which can be substantial depending on the actions that are needed to recover your settlement.
Here at Normandie, victims receive free legal services as a part of the Zero fee guarantee. You pay nothing to hire us, since we work on contingency. That means we wait until the end of your case to get paid, and at that point, it’s the defendant who is responsible for covering our costs. There is nothing to lose by giving us a call, so please schedule a free case review at your earliest convenience.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Recovering Lost Wages from Travelers after an Accident
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How to get Lost Wages from Chubb after an Accident
