2. Non-Economic Damages
While economic damages are tied to bills and receipts, non-economic damages reflect the harder-to-measure ways an accident has impacted your life. They are equally important, as they recognize how your quality of life has been altered.
Pain and Suffering
Physical pain stemming from the accident, as well as the long-term discomfort caused by your injuries, falls under this category.
For example, if you’ve suffered chronic back pain after a collision with a Lyft driver, pain and suffering damages aim to compensate you for the ongoing toll it takes.
Emotional Distress
The trauma of an accident can leave victims with emotional scars, including anxiety, depression, or even PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). These mental health struggles can be included in your claim.
Maybe you’ve found yourself unable to ride in a vehicle without feeling overwhelming fear after the accident—this emotional burden is compensable as emotional distress.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Sometimes, injuries prevent you from participating in activities you once enjoyed, whether it’s a sport, a hobby, or simply spending time with your family in the same carefree way. Loss of enjoyment of life damages factor in these changes.
Loss of Consortium
When an accident’s aftermath affects a spouse or close family member—such as their relationship with the victim—these losses can be included in the claim. Loss of consortium captures the negative impact the injury has had on personal relationships.