What Are Non-Economic Damages in Massachusetts?

When seeking compensation for a personal injury claim, some of the damages that should be included are fairly obvious. You’ll need to be compensated for your current and future medical bills first and foremost, closely followed by any lost income or earning potential caused by your injuries and recovery. There are a number of other financial expenses that have readily apparent dollar values, as well.

However, many injury victims fail to realize that there are also a number of intangible non-economic damages that should also be factored into their settlement. These losses represent how their injuries or the accident have affected the quality of their life, making them just as important as the financial damages.

Pain and Suffering

It’s the rare injury that doesn’t inflict some amount of pain and suffering. This might simply be the physical pain that you experience because of your wounds. However, it could also reflect the mental anguish you experience, especially if your injuries are likely to develop into a permanent disability, such as with a paralyzing spinal injury or an amputation.

Loss of Consortium

Loss of consortium covers a few different things, but in general, it refers to the damage done to your personal relationships: the loss of companionship caused by your injuries. This often involves the strain put on your marriage by what you’ve been through and how it’s affected you. For example, a brain injury might cause your spouse to treat you differently, or lost sexual function could prevent you from being intimate with him or her.

These non-economic losses also cover damage done to your friendships and other personal relationships, so it can be fairly broad and wide-ranging.

Disfigurement

Some injuries cause permanent disfigurement, which can dramatically impact your quality of life. This is especially likely with burn injuries. Serious disfigurement can easily impact your job opportunities, and it can also hurt your personal relationships, leading to loss of consortium.

Emotional Distress

Either the accident or the effects of the injury can cause substantial emotional distress. Losing a limb can cause you to fall into a deep depression. The accident itself might have been so traumatizing that you experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In any case, emotional distress can profoundly impact your day-to-day life and your mental health.

Lost Enjoyment of Life

Your injuries might simply make it impossible to enjoy your life as you once did. You might be unable to take part in hobbies and physical activities that once brought you fulfillment. When your life is completely turned upside-down, you deserve compensation for what’s been done to you.

Speak with a Boston Personal Injury Attorney

Never accept a settlement offer without making certain that it covers all of your losses—including those that can’t be easily translated into dollars and cents. Joel H. Schwartz, PC knows how to properly value a personal injury claim. Schedule a free consultation and discover what your claim could be worth. Just call 1-800-660-2270 or complete the contact form below.