How to Prove Loss of Enjoyment of Life

In personal injury cases, the victim may be able to obtain compensation for the damages suffered. Both economic and non-economic damages must be considered as part of this compensation. 

• Economic damages refer to all the expenses that include medical treatment, vehicle repairs, damaged property, surgeries, medications, etc. This includes everything that can be quantified in economic terms. 
• Non-economic damages refer to all those damages that cannot be monetized, such as pain and suffering, emotional and psychological damage, loss of lifestyle, and loss of capacity to enjoy life.

What does ¨loss of enjoyment of life¨ mean? In legal terms, loss of enjoyment of life refers to the victim’s inability to participate in activities in which they used to engage before the accident due to pain, loss of function, or any other direct consequence of their injuries.

During an accident, a person can suffer severe and catastrophic injuries that may affect their life in the long term and require constant medical treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, adaptation to a new lifestyle, etc. This, in addition to physical damage, also implies psychological and emotional damage, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, panic attacks, among others.

What kinds of injuries can affect our ability to enjoy life?

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Scars or disfigurement
• Amputations
• Injuries resulting in loss of sight and/or hearing
• Injuries that generate severe chronic pain
• Severe burn injuries

In order to obtain compensation for loss of enjoyment of life, the victim must prove that before the accident, he was able to carry out activities that are now impossible due to the injuries he suffered. The testimonials of family, friends, and even doctors, psychiatrists, and psychologists, can be crucial in determining the before and after of the person’s lifestyle.

When quantifying the amount of compensation for this reason, different factors must be considered, such as:

• The severity of the victim’s injuries
• The impact that the injuries have and will have in the person’s future
• Loss of capacity to earn an income and be gainfully employed
• The age and socioeconomic status of the person
• The current and future medical expenses that the person will have to consider for the rest of his/her life.

If you or a loved one has suffered the loss of enjoyment of life, you can talk to an experienced lawyer who can guide you in the process of getting the compensation that you deserve.

At Nourmand Legal, we are dedicated to taking care of our clients and their families. Call us today for a consultation!