Injury victims often suffer from a reduced quality of life after a devastating accident. Some victims aren’t able to participate in activities they enjoyed prior to the accident. When someone else is responsible for these injuries, the victim is entitled to financial compensation for their diminished “quality of life.”
Although money cannot replace your health, the judicial system uses monetary compensation as a method of repayment for the loss of quality of life. Understanding what this means and how it is calculated can help you after an injury.
What Is a “Quality of Life” Injury?
After an injury, some victims are unable to do the things they once loved. This means that they cannot experience the same pleasure and excitement they once enjoyed from those activities. This is known as a reduction in their “quality of life.”
If you are injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you have a right to be compensated for your damages. This includes non-economic damages, like a loss of quality of life.
Factors That Affect Quality of Life Damages in Personal Injury Cases
Quality of life damages can be present in many types of personal injury cases, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and others. Several factors, including physical and emotional factors, are considered to be part of quality-of-life damages.
Physical Injuries
Physical injuries can have lasting effects on accident victims. Some victims may be left with chronic pain that lasts the rest of their lives. Additionally, scarring or disfigurement can be permanent reminders of the injuries they suffered.
Mental Well-Being
It is not uncommon for accident victims to suffer severe emotional distress after an accident. Not only can the accident itself cause anxiety or PTSD, but the effects of their injuries can also lead to depression and other mental anguish.
Social Factors
An individual’s social life can be greatly affected after an accident. They may no longer be physically capable of socializing with friends or going out with others. Even if they can socialize, accident victims may no longer be in a mental state that allows them to engage with others easily.
Financial Impacts
Accidents and injuries can take a huge financial toll on victims. Medical bills can start to pile up, and in many cases, the victim is unable to work for some period of time. This financial stress can greatly affect a person’s quality of life.
It is important to thoroughly understand each of these factors when reviewing a personal injury claim. Some insurance companies often try to downplay or diminish the value of these factors to avoid paying the full amount of these damages.
An experienced personal injury attorney can help ensure all these factors are considered part of your claim. You deserve to be fairly compensated for all your losses, including your non-economic losses.
Proving Quality of Life Damages in Personal Injury Cases
Proving your quality of life damages involves reviewing many types of evidence. Some of the most common pieces of evidence used to prove these damages include:
- Medical Records: A key piece of evidence to proving these damages is documentation provided by your healthcare providers.
- Witness Testimony: This can include both your own testimony as well as the testimony of family and friends who can speak to how much your life has been affected.
- Economic Damages: The higher your economic damages are associated with a personal injury case, the more likely you are to suffer a reduced quality of life.
- Expert Opinions: Vocational experts and other experts can testify about how your injuries impact your ability to perform certain tasks or daily activities.
The more evidence you have to prove your damages, the better. A combination of all these types of evidence is often used in personal injury cases. This is one reason you should always seek the help of an experienced personal injury attorney. Your attorney can help gather all the necessary evidence to prove your case and recover compensation for you.
Calculating the Value of Quality of Life Damages
The value of quality of life damages depends on the specifics of your case. The more your life has been affected, the higher your damages will likely be. These damages are often worth anywhere from 1.5 to 5 times the value of your economic damages.
The best way to estimate your damages is by choosing a personal injury attorney to help you. An experienced attorney can help thoroughly evaluate your claim, estimate the value of your damages, and ensure that the responsible party is held accountable. Schedule a free consultation with a Brentwood personal injury attorney today to get help. For more information, please contact the Nashville personal injury law firm of Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today of call at (615) 685-8546.
