Loss of earning refers to the money someone cannot make because their injuries prevent them from working at their previous job or limit their ability to earn income in the future. This includes both the wages or salary you've already lost while recovering from your injuries, as well as the reduced earning capacity you'll experience going forward if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous level of work or career. For example, if you were a construction worker earning $50,000 per year but can no longer do physical labor due to a back injury, your loss of earning would include both the paychecks you missed during recovery and the difference between your old salary and whatever lower-paying job you can now perform.
In personal injury cases, calculating loss of earning often requires looking at your work history, education, skills, and career trajectory to determine how much money you would have made over your lifetime if the accident hadn't occurred. This can be one of the largest components of compensation in serious injury cases, especially for younger victims who have many working years ahead of them or high earners whose injuries force them into lower-paying jobs. Courts may consider factors like promotions you would have received, raises based on experience, and inflation when calculating these future lost earnings, often requiring expert testimony from economists or vocational specialists to establish the full extent of your financial losses.
