Gathering Evidence For Loss of Enjoyment Of Life In Personal Injury Cases
If you were in a personal injury accident in Utah due to someone else’s fault, you can claim a number of damages. These include economic and noneconomic damages. Loss of enjoyment is noneconomic damage that reimburses the victim for their inability to participate in activities they like or any experience in general that they enjoyed.
Loss of enjoyment is a compensable damage that the victim can seek from the at-fault party. While medical bills and property damage losses are easy to prove, noneconomic damages like this one can take a lot of work. However, there is nothing an experienced Utah personal injury lawyer couldn’t do for the people in Utah. Hence, Hire a personal injury lawyer today.
Understanding Loss of Enjoyment of Life
In brief, loss of enjoyment of life is the victim’s inability to participate in the same activities that they enjoyed before they got injured in the accident. This can include playing sports, hobbies, social activities, etc. Loss of enjoyment of life can also include daily activities, such as cooking, personal grooming, cleaning, etc.
Loss of enjoyment of life comes under the category of non-economic damages. They do not have a fixed monetary value but can inflict emotional and psychological harm on the victim. It is difficult to put a dollar amount on this type of pain. Every state has its own law about calculating non-economic damages.
What type of injuries can cause a loss of enjoyment of life?
While almost any injury can cause a loss of enjoyment of life in some way, most people who pursue it suffer from severe injuries that prevent them from enjoying the activities they loved before. These may include:
- Burn injuries
- Brain injuries
- Chronic pain injuries
- Loss of hearing/sight
- Scarring/disfigurement
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
How do courts calculate the amount for loss of enjoyment of life?
Courts consider the following before calculating the awards:
- How the injury might affect the victim in the future.
- What the victim cannot do anymore.
- How bad the injuries are.
- What the person knows and what jobs they have done before.
- How the person looks.
- How old the person is.
- Where the person lives.
In addition to this, the victim or plaintiff will have the opportunity to present witnesses and economists to help the court calculate the victim’s damages. Expert witnesses are more likely to put an accurate monetary value on human life and the changes in it.
If you have experienced a loss of enjoyment of life due to a personal injury, it is crucial to seek legal assistance to pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact a seasoned Utah personal injury lawyer today.
