Pursuing Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate victims for the profound, non-financial losses that result from a soft tissue injury. While these losses don’t have a specific price tag, they represent the real impact the injury has on your quality of life. Placing a monetary value on them is complex, but it is a crucial part of a personal injury claim.
Pain and Suffering
This category addresses the physical pain and discomfort caused by the injury itself, as well as the subsequent medical treatments and therapies. It accounts for chronic pain, muscle stiffness, limited range of motion, and other persistent physical challenges that victims endure daily.
Emotional Distress and Mental Anguish
Living with a painful and persistent injury takes a significant emotional toll. Damages for mental anguish compensate for conditions like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), frustration, and fear. It acknowledges the psychological impact of dealing with ongoing pain and adjusting to limitations during recovery.
Physical Impairment
Compensation can be awarded for the loss of physical abilities, such as difficulty performing daily tasks, restricted mobility, or the inability to engage in activities that were once routine. Even when soft tissue injuries heal, lingering stiffness or weakness can affect a person’s ability to function fully.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
This refers to the inability to participate in hobbies, activities, and life experiences that brought you joy before the injury. Whether it’s playing with your children, engaging in sports, exercising, traveling, or pursuing a favorite pastime, the loss of these activities is a significant and compensable damage.
Loss of Consortium
This is a claim that can be brought by the spouse of the injured person. It compensates them for the loss of companionship, affection, and intimacy that results from their partner’s injury and recovery process.