Types of Noneconomic Damages Awarded in a Personal Injury Case
After an accident in Tennessee, personal injury victims are entitled to both economic and noneconomic damages for their injuries. Economic damages pay for out of pocket costs, such as medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and the loss of future income and benefits that are all easy to calculate with receipts, records, and paystubs. A victim is also entitled to noneconomic damages, which compensate a person for the less tangible, but still impactful, harms caused by an accident. At Mitch Grissim & Associates, our Nashville personal injury attorneys are here to answer all of your questions about compensation for your personal injury claim, including those about noneconomic damages. To learn more, call or contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
Pain and Suffering
Damages for pain and suffering are meant to compensate the victim of a personal injury accident for the physical harm they suffer due to the negligent or reckless acts of others. Compensation may be awarded for a reduction in the victim’s quality of life, their physical pain or impairment, and if the extent of the injuries is likely to shorten the victim’s lifespan.
Emotional Distress
Compensation for emotional distress is appropriate if the victim in a personal injury accident has suffered mental or psychological trauma as a result of the incident or their injuries. Common examples can be symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, nightmares, new phobias, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental or emotional harm that was not present prior to the accident.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
An injury victim may also be compensated for the loss of enjoyment of life. This can either be for physical reasons, emotional reasons, or a combination of both that detrimentally impacts a person’s ability to enjoy the life and lifestyle they used to have prior to the accident. This loss could be temporary for more minor injuries or a permanent loss for disabling and severe injuries caused by an accident.
Disability
Personal injury victims can also collect noneconomic damages for any disability they suffer as a result of the accident. The extent of a person’s physical disability can be measured through personal testimony, medical records, job performance reports, and rehabilitation reports. Disability compensation can also range from minor disability that marginally affects the victim to life-altering disability that will substantially impact daily living for the rest of their life.
Disfigurement
Finally, a victim in a personal injury accident can be compensated for any disfigurement caused by the accident. This is typically caused by debris, significant forces, fire, and explosions in an accident but can also be caused by deliberate and intentional acts. This element of noneconomic damages is often closely related to disability, as disfigurement often causes some level of disability in a person’s life.
Call or Contact Our Office Today
If you would like to learn more about the noneconomic damages you may be entitled to in your case, call or contact Mitch Grissim & Associates today to schedule a case consultation.
Resource:
law.cornell.edu/wex/pain_and_suffering
https://mitchgrissim.com/what-you-should-know-about-motorcycle-rollover-accidents/
