Non-economic damages refer to money awarded for the personal and emotional effects of an injury. These losses do not have a clear dollar value like medical bills or lost wages. Instead, they cover the ways an injury can affect a person’s health, emotions, and daily life.
For example, a serious injury may cause ongoing pain or make it difficult to enjoy hobbies. It may also affect relationships with family and friends. These losses can be just as important as the financial costs of an accident.
In a personal injury case, an injured person may be able to seek money for these losses. The amount depends on the facts of the case, the severity of the injuries, and how the injuries have changed the person’s life.
Understanding Non-Economic Damages in Personal Injury Law
Personal injury law in Georgia allows people to seek payment when someone else’s careless actions cause them harm. This payment may cover both financial and personal losses.
Non-economic damages may be important when a person has serious or lasting injuries. For example, a person may have chronic pain, scars, or trouble walking after an accident.
A personal injury lawyer can collect medical records, photos, and other evidence to show how an injury has affected the person’s life.
What Is the Difference Between Economic and Non-Economic Damages?
Economic damages cover financial losses caused by an injury. These losses usually have a clear dollar amount. Medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and future medical care are common examples.
Non-economic damages are different because they cover personal losses that are harder to measure. There is no bill or receipt that shows how much physical pain or emotional suffering is worth.
A person may seek both economic and non-economic damages in the same case. For example, someone with a back injury may have economic damages in the form of hospital bills and lost income. That person may also have non-economic damages in the form of severe pain and inability to take part in their favorite activities.
Both types of damages can be important. Together, they can show the full effect that an accident has had on an injured person’s life.
Examples of Non-Economic Damages
The types of non-economic damages that may be available depend on the injury and the facts of the case.
Common examples include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Physical disability
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of quality of life
Evidence can help show how serious these losses are. Medical records, photos, and statements from family members may help. The injured person’s own description of daily pain and limits may also be useful when seeking fair payment.
How Are Non-Economic Damages Calculated?
Calculating non-economic damages is challenging because they do not have a clear monetary value. Instead, many factors may be considered when determining a fair amount.
The severity of the injury is often important. A permanent injury may support a larger award than an injury that heals within a few weeks. The amount of pain, length of recovery, and effect on daily life may also matter. Other factors may include the person’s age, future health problems, scars, physical limits, and ability to enjoy normal activities.
To determine a value based on these factors, the legal system typically recognizes two main methods: the multiplier method and the per diem method. The former applies a multiplier to the value of a victim’s economic damages, while the latter assigns a daily rate to the victim’s ongoing pain and suffering.
What Evidence Can Help Prove Non-Economic Damages?
Because non-economic damages lack a set price, evidence is important. It can help show how an injury has changed a person’s everyday life.
Medical records may show the amount of pain a person has suffered and the treatment that was needed. Photos may show scars or other visible injuries. Family members and friends may also explain how the injured person’s life changed after the accident.
A person may also keep a journal about pain and recovery. The journal could describe sleep problems, missed events, trouble doing household tasks, and activities the person can no longer enjoy. Doctors and other experts may also explain whether an injury is permanent.
Clear and detailed evidence can help an insurance company or jury understand the full effect of an injury.
Contact the Marietta Personal Injury Lawyers at Turner Ross Germain Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If another person’s careless actions caused your injuries, you may have the right to seek payment for your losses. This may include both economic and non-economic damages.
Our personal injury lawyers at Turner Ross Germain Personal Injury Lawyers can review your accident and explain your legal choices. We can gather evidence, deal with insurance companies, and determine what types of damages may be available.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn about your options for seeking compensation.
We serve Marietta, East Cobb, Cobb County, and its surrounding areas in Georgia.
Turner Ross Germain, LLC
1501 Johnson Ferry Rd Unit 100, Marietta, GA 30062
(470) 260-4731
We’re available 24/7