GermanyCan I claim compensation for lost earnings?
Yes, you can claim compensation for lost earnings in Germany if a personal injury has reduced or eliminated your ability to work, under BGB § 252 (lost profit) and § 843 (annuity for lost earning capacity).
What the Law Says
German law allows victims of personal injury to recover financial losses caused by reduced or lost ability to earn income. Two core provisions govern this: one for short-term or calculable lost profits, and another for long-term or permanent loss of earning capacity.
BGB § 252 covers 'entgangener Gewinn' — lost profit — which includes income you would have earned but for the injury. To qualify, the lost earnings must be probable based on ordinary course of events or your specific circumstances (e.g., job, training, contracts, or career trajectory).
BGB § 843 applies when bodily injury or harm to health permanently reduces or eliminates your earning capacity — or increases your needs. In such cases, compensation is typically paid as a lifelong monthly annuity ('Geldrente'), not a one-time sum — unless a 'wichtiger Grund' (important reason) justifies a capital settlement.
The annuity amount is calculated based on your pre-injury earning capacity, age, life expectancy, degree of impairment, and likely future income growth. Courts use expert medical and vocational assessments to determine the percentage loss of earning capacity (e.g., 30%, 70%, or 100%).
Statutory TextDer zu ersetzende Schaden umfasst auch den entgangenen Gewinn. Als entgangen gilt der Gewinn, welcher nach dem gewöhnlichen Lauf der Dinge oder nach den besonderen Umständen, insbesondere nach den getroffenen Anstalten und Vorkehrungen, mit Wahrscheinlichkeit erwartet werden konnte.
— BGB § 252 — German Civil Code
Statutory Text(1) Wird infolge einer Verletzung des Körpers oder der Gesundheit die Erwerbsfähigkeit des Verletzten aufgehoben oder gemindert oder tritt eine Vermehrung seiner Bedürfnisse ein, so ist dem Verletzten durch Entrichtung einer Geldrente Schadensersatz zu leisten.(2) Auf die Rente findet die Vorschrift des § 760 Anwendung. Ob, in welcher Art und für welchen Betrag der Ersatzpflichtige Sicherheit zu leisten hat, bestimmt sich nach den Umständen.(3) Statt der Rente kann der Verletzte eine Abfindung in Kapital verlangen, wenn ein wichtiger Grund vorliegt.(4) Der Anspruch wird nicht dadurch ausgeschlossen, dass ein anderer dem Verletzten Unterhalt zu gewähren hat.
— BGB § 843 — German Civil Code
What Courts Have Said
While BGH VI ZR 7/21 focused on household capacity loss, it confirms that non-wage-earning roles (e.g., homemakers) are entitled to compensation based on market replacement costs — reinforcing that 'earning capacity' includes all economically valuable contributions.
Compensation for loss of household capacity (Haushaltsfuehrungsschaden). A homemaker injured in an accident may claim compensation for their reduced ability to perform household work, calculated based on the hourly cost of hiring a replacement.
What to Do
Seek immediate medical documentation linking your injury to reduced work capacity.
Obtain a certified medical expert opinion assessing the percentage loss of earning capacity.
Calculate lost earnings using wage records, tax returns, and vocational reports — for both past loss (§ 252) and future loss (§ 843).
File a claim with the liable party’s insurer or initiate civil proceedings within the 3-year limitation period (§ 195 BGB).
Consider requesting a capital lump sum under § 843(3) if you face relocation, financial instability, or other important reasons.
Sources
Related Questions
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.