When someone is hurt in an accident caused by someone else, they may be able to file a personal injury claim to get compensation.
In Virginia, personal injury law allows for both economic damages and non-economic damages. While economic damages cover financial losses like medical bills or lost wages, non-economic damages are about the emotional and personal losses someone suffers after an injury. These are harder to measure, but they are just as important.
What Are Non-Economic Damages?
Non-economic damages are the losses a person experiences that don’t come with a specific price tag. These damages focus on how the injury affects a person’s life, emotions, and well-being. They are considered “intangible” because you can’t easily prove their value with receipts or bills.
All of these things can deeply affect someone’s daily life and happiness. Even if the physical wounds heal, emotional and psychological wounds can last much longer. Common examples of non-economic damages include:
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering may be the most well-known type of non-economic damages. This includes both physical pain from the injury and the emotional pain that comes with it. Chronic pain, long recovery periods, and permanent disabilities can cause ongoing suffering that changes how someone lives their life.
Emotional Distress
Accidents don’t just hurt your body—they can also take a serious toll on your mind. Emotional distress is the mental strain and suffering someone experiences after a traumatic event. This can include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Someone who has been in a serious car crash may be afraid to drive again. A victim of a dog bite may have nightmares or anxiety about going outside. These mental effects are real and can interfere with a person’s daily life and relationships. Emotional distress is a valid form of non-economic damage and can be included in a personal injury lawsuit.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
After an injury, many people find they can no longer enjoy the things that once brought them happiness. Maybe you can’t play sports, go hiking, or even do simple things like gardening or playing with your kids anymore. This loss of ability to enjoy life is a real consequence of injury.
Virginia law allows victims to recover money for the loss of enjoyment of life. This type of damage recognizes that your lifestyle has changed, and that change is worth compensation. No one should lose their joy in life because of someone else’s careless actions.
Loss of Companionship and Support
Some injuries are so serious that they affect the victim’s relationships with others, especially their spouse or close family members. If an injury changes how you interact with your loved ones, that may be considered a loss of consortium, which is another kind of non-economic damage.
For example, if a married couple can no longer be physically close or emotionally connected because of an injury, that is a deep loss that affects both people in the relationship. Virginia allows claims for this kind of damage as part of a personal injury case. Loss of companionship and emotional support is important to healing and should not be overlooked.
Scarring and Disfigurement
Serious injuries often leave visible scars or permanent disfigurement. These physical changes can deeply affect how a person feels about themselves. Scars on the face, hands, or other visible areas can lead to embarrassment, self-esteem issues, and social withdrawal. Even though scarring may not cause ongoing physical pain, the emotional and mental impact can be overwhelming.
Non-economic damages cover these kinds of losses so victims can get the support they need to move forward. Scarring and disfigurement are lasting reminders of a painful experience, and the law recognizes that.
How Are Non-Economic Damages Calculated?
Unlike medical bills, non-economic damages don’t have a clear cost. No formula applies to every case, but courts and insurance companies use a couple of common methods to estimate these damages.
One common approach is the multiplier method. This means that your economic damages (like medical costs) are multiplied by a number—usually between 1.5 and 5—depending on the injury’s severity. For example, if your medical bills were $20,000 and your pain and suffering was rated as high, the multiplier might be 4, resulting in $80,000 in non-economic damages.
Another approach is the per diem method, which assigns a dollar amount to each day you suffer from your injury. That amount is then multiplied by the number of days you are expected to suffer or recover.
Every case is different. That’s why working with an experienced Virginia personal injury lawyer is so important—they can help calculate a fair amount based on your unique experience. Non-economic damages are not easy to measure, but they are essential to receiving full compensation.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Some people think that personal injury claims are only about getting money for hospital bills or missed work. But injuries often affect people in deeper ways.
Non-economic damages help recognize the emotional, mental, and personal struggles that come with being hurt. This part of a claim is about giving victims a voice. It’s about telling your story and helping others understand how your life has changed.
A fair settlement or verdict should include both economic and non-economic damages. Without these damages, people would only be compensated for part of what they’ve truly lost.
Our Manassas personal injury lawyers at The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm can explain what your non-economic losses could include and help you calculate an accurate total value.
