What are Non-Economic Damages?
Non-economic damages are compensation for non-monetary and subjective losses. This includes pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and more.
According to Black’s Law Dictionary, non-economic damages are defined as “compensation for intangible losses, such as pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium, which do not have a readily determinable monetary value.”As such, they are damages for non-financial aspects of an injury. Unlike economic damages, which reimburse specific financial losses such as medical expenses or lost wages, non-economic damages compensate for subjective harms such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and loss of enjoyment of life.
These can include:
- Pain and suffering: Physical discomfort, emotional distress, and mental anguish experienced due to an injury or traumatic event.
- Emotional distress: Psychological trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues resulting from a negligent act or intentional harm.
- Loss of consortium: Deprivation of companionship, support, or intimacy with a spouse or family member due to their injury or death.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Inability to participate in activities or hobbies enjoyed before the injury, impacting the quality of life.
Non-economic damages are most common in personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death claims. The purpose of awarding non-economic damages allows for both fair compensation for injury and restitution. Understanding non-economic damages is essential in legal proceedings to ensure that injured parties receive comprehensive compensation for all aspects of their losses and suffering.
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Bethlehem Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If you need a Bethlehem medical malpractice lawyer to win justice for you, you need Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
Get justice, get results, and get maximum compensation for your injuries/illness caused by medical error in the Lehigh Valley
According to the Medical Malpractice Center (MMC), medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Unfortunately, preventable mistakes cause the deaths of 195,000 patients every year. Likewise, the MMC reports that 100,000 people die each year because of doctors’ failures to properly diagnose their illnesses. In fact, from 1986 until 2010, hospitals, healthcare companies, and doctors paid $38.8 billion to medical malpractice victims. If your doctor, nurse, or healthcare professional messed up your medical care, take action. Above all, you deserve justice and a Bethlehem medical malpractice lawyer who will fight for maximum compensation for your injuries. […]
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Understanding damages in a personal injury case
How are damages determined in a personal injury case? What kinds of damages can I be compensated for?
Victims who were hurt by car crashes, truck collisions, workplace accidents, medical malpractice, asbestos exposure, or defective products can file lawsuits to recover for damages. The term “damages” refers to the amount of money that those victims are awarded to compensate for the financial losses, pain, and suffering that their injuries caused.
What Is the Difference Between Economic and Non-economic Damages?
They are two main types of damages in personal injury cases: economic damages and noneconomic damages.
Economic Damages can be thought of as the concrete financial costs caused by an injury. Examples of economic damages include the costs of medical treatments, procedures, medications, surgeries, and hospital stays, […]
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Homeless Man Awarded $41,000 for Fraternity Shooting Incident
A homeless man who was shot with a .22 caliber rifle by an Oregon State University fraternity member has been awarded over $6,000 for medical expenses and $35,000 in non-economic damages, totaling over $40,000.
The jury found both the Association of Alpha Beta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) and a former member responsible for the 2006 shooting, according to news reports. The national organization was not held responsible.
Witnesses testified that the fraternity members were known to shoot BB guns from the fraternity building windows and had talked about shooting homeless people with BB guns, news reports stated. After a search of the fraternity house, police found more than 24 firearms. The guns are allowed according to the AGR guidelines as long as they are securely locked.
The individual found liable in the case testified he was aiming at a dumpster and not the homeless man. […]
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