Claim for Damages Resulting From Automobile Accident

An individual claimed compensation for damages resulting from an automobile accident which involved an employee of the General Accounting Office. The claim totaled $638 and consisted of 3 items: (1) the deductible portion of the claimant's insurance policy; (2) the claimant's loss of time from work; and (3) car rental expenses. GAO held that an examination of the evidence showed that the claimant was entitled to the $200 deductible portion of his insurance policy. However, with respect to the portion of the claim dealing with the claimant's loss of time from work, compensation was disallowed since no evidence was furnished showing that the loss of time from work necessarily resulted from the accident, and that the amount claimed represented the claimant's actual salary. Additionally, GAO felt that the claimant's request for compensation for 25 days of car rental costs was excessive. Accordingly, GAO allowed in final settlement of the claim the sum of $450.