Yes. If someone else's negligence caused your injuries, lost wages are usually part of what you can recover, along with your medical bills and other damages. That includes the paychecks you missed while you were hurt or in treatment.
Lost wages cover more than the hours you didn't clock. If you burned through vacation or sick days to recover, that has value too. If you're self-employed or work on commission, you can claim the income you would have earned, though it takes more documentation to prove. And if the injury keeps you from doing your old job going forward, you may have a claim for lost future earning capacity.
Proving it is where cases get won or lost. Pay stubs, tax returns, a letter from your employer, and your doctor's notes about work restrictions all help tie the missed income to the crash. Insurance adjusters push back hard on these numbers, so keep records of everything.
Remember that California is a pure comparative-fault state. If you were partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your share, not erased. And you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, though claims against a public entity can have much shorter deadlines.
This is general information, not legal advice, and every case turns on its own facts.
Whether your injury came from a car accident, a truck accident, or another personal injury, Joe Crudo can walk you through what your lost wages may be worth. Call (858) 622-7280 or reach out through our contact page for a free, confidential consultation.