Lost Wages in a Idaho Personal Injury Claim
If an injury caused by another party's negligence forced you out of work in Idaho, you can recover lost wages and future earning capacity as part of your claim. Here is exactly how to document, calculate, and recover your income losses.
For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney.
Modified comparative fault (50% bar)
Fault System
2 years
Filing Deadline
At-Fault
Auto System
What Lost Wages You Can Recover in Idaho
Past Lost Wages
All income you lost from the date of the accident through settlement or verdict — including salary, hourly wages, tips, commissions, bonuses, and self-employment income.
Future Lost Earnings
If your injury causes permanent or long-term disability affecting your ability to work, you can recover the present value of future income losses. Expert economic testimony is typically required.
Lost Business Income
Self-employed individuals and business owners can claim documented lost profits caused by their inability to work.
Benefits & PTO Used
Sick days, vacation days, and other benefits consumed due to your injury may be recoverable as lost wages.
No-Fault vs At-Fault in Idaho
Idaho Injury Law
Idaho applies modified comparative fault with a 50% bar, meaning plaintiffs who are equally or more at fault than defendants cannot recover. The statute of limitations is 2 years for most personal injury cases. Idaho does not require no-fault PIP auto insurance. Idaho's agricultural and outdoor recreation industries — farming, ranching, skiing, hunting — generate distinctive injury litigation not commonly seen in urban states. Premises liability claims on farmland and recreational properties are subject to specific rules, including the Idaho Recreational Use Statute that limits landowner liability to those who open land for recreation without charge. Medical malpractice noneconomic damages are capped at $250,000 under Idaho Code § 6-1603. Product liability and dog bite cases follow separate statutory frameworks. Punitive damages require a court pretrial finding of reasonable basis before they may be presented to a jury, adding an additional procedural hurdle unique to Idaho.