Loss Of Enjoyment Of Life: Definition & How To Calculate It
If you’ve been injured at the hands of another, you likely have the basis for a lawsuit. There are different types of lawsuits, depending on the circumstances, the specific injury, and more. If, because of an injury, you feel you can no longer enjoy life to its fullest, can you sue someone for the loss of enjoyment of life?
With a good Los Angeles catastrophic injury lawyer on your side, you stand a better chance of winning a suit such as this. Let’s look at a loss of enjoyment of life lawsuit, and what it involves.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life – The Basic Concept
The loss of enjoyment of life concept refers to the toll or the lasting impact an injury has on the quality of life for the injured person, as compared with their preinjury life.
In some personal injury cases, the legal term “loss of enjoyment of life” refers to when:
- A mental or physical injury has been suffered by a person and
- A person’s ability to enjoy something that, prior to the injury, used to give them enjoyment is affected by the injury
What types of activities are referred to here?
- Social activities
- Volunteer opportunities
- Recreational and physical activities
- Hobbies
- Career
- Travel
- Family bonding activities
Sue for Loss of Enjoyment of Life
If you file a lawsuit for the loss of enjoyment of life, in essence, what are you doing? Loss of enjoyment of life is among the general or noneconomic damages you might be able to get compensation for as the result of an incident that involves personal injury. A loss of enjoyment of life lawsuit results from the consequences of accident-incurred injuries but is not the same as pain and suffering.
The best professional to assist you with a loss of enjoyment of life suit, specifically, is a personal injury attorney.
Should you decide to sue for loss of enjoyment of life, the jury will consider a number of factors to calculate damages including the following:
- The nature of the lost activity
- The future consequences resulting from the injury
- Injury severity
- The work history and educational background of the injured party
- The injured person’s age
- The appearance of the injured party
- The injured person’s geographic location
California Loss of Enjoyment of Life Suits
In California, damages such as these are awarded. However, rather than standing as a separate award for damages, they are included in pain and suffering compensation. A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer understands this. As an example of compensatory damages, loss of enjoyment of life is one that, in a personal injury case, a plaintiff may be awarded. Punitive damages may also be awarded to the plaintiff in some of these cases.
The loss of the enjoyment of life may be caused by injuries that could be classified as catastrophic, including the following:
- Disfiguring or severe burns
- Injuries causing deafness or blindness
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
Is Your Enjoyment of Life Threatened Due to an Injury?
The professionals at The Ryan Law Group want to make sure you are compensated for the fact that you won’t be able to enjoy life in the manner to which you’ve become accustomed. If you have been injured, the last thing you need to deal with is insurance companies, courts, paperwork, etc. You need someone who is knowledgeable, experienced, and able to stand up and fight for your rights. Contact us at 310-299-9550 to schedule a free consultation.