Most people only focus on the financial costs of an accident. They typically consider medical bills and car repairs. But there’s also a side to the damage that doesn’t have a clear price tag; these are called non-economic damages. They focus on how the accident affects your life beyond money.
Non-economic damages include things like pain and suffering and emotional distress. Even though you can’t measure these in dollars, they’re just as important as economic damages.
If you are dealing with this type of impact, it might be a good idea to hire a car accident lawyer to help you through the situation. These lawyers understand that the damages reflect the long-term impact on your quality of life, even if they don’t have an obvious cost.
Here are the non-economic losses you can claim with a car accident lawyer’s help.
Physical Pain
This covers the physical pain you feel right after the crash, like bruises or broken bones. But it’s also about any long-term pain that sticks around even after the accident is over, like back problems or joint pain.
It’s not just about how much it hurts, but how that pain messes with your daily life. It can affect everything from getting out of bed to how you sleep, or even how much energy you have throughout the day.
Emotional Distress
A car accident can be traumatic in ways that go far beyond just the physical damage. Some people experience things like anxiety, depression, or even PTSD after an accident. It can make it hard to feel normal again, whether that’s getting back to school or work, spending time with friends, or even feeling safe in a car again.
This kind of emotional toll is just as real as any physical injury, but it’s something that doesn’t have an easy price tag attached.
Loss of Consortium
Loss of consortium means the injury has taken away the closeness, affection, and support that the injured person used to share with their partner. If someone can’t be there for their partner like they did before, whether it’s because they’re in pain or can’t do simple things like cuddle or talk, it can create a gap in the relationship. The emotional connection they used to have will begin to suffer.
This loss can be just as real as the physical injury, even though it’s harder to see. The injury not only affects the person who’s hurt, but also the people around them, and it changes the way they interact with each other.
Loss of Quality of Life
Loss of quality of life is about how an injury stops a person from enjoying their normal activities. For example, if you used to love playing sports, hiking, or even just walking your dog, those things might become really hard to do after an injury.
It can be quite frustrating and sad to realize that life isn’t the same as it was before. This type of loss affects a person’s happiness and overall well-being in ways that can be quantified with cash.
Scarring or Disfigurement
Scarring or disfigurement occurs when someone experiences a visible scar or permanent change in appearance as a result of an injury. These physical changes can affect how a person feels about themselves.
When someone has a visible scar or looks different, it can make them feel self-conscious or embarrassed. They might avoid social situations or feel like others are judging them.
These feelings can lead to isolation or a drop in confidence. Even if the physical injury heals, the emotional impact of how someone feels about their appearance can last for a long time.
Even though this type of damage doesn’t have a direct price tag, it’s still a significant loss that deserves to be recognized.
