Actual loss of earnings refers to how much income your loved one would have earned had the death not occurred. This figure can be calculated by determining the amount of money they would have made from the date of death to the present date and the amount that they would have made in the future. nFor example, if your mother was a school teacher earning a salary of $40,000 per year and died in an accident, the lawsuit would claim the amount of unearned money from the date of death to the present time. The lawsuit would also review how many more years she would have likely worked before retirement. nThese future earnings would be increased for the rate of inflation every year. It is also necessary to consider expected annual pay raises. When the future earnings number is totaled up, an economist then uses a formula to reduce the total amount to the present value.