Yale Haymond Law PLLC handles complex personal injury claims. One question they hear from clients is, “Can you sue someone for loss of enjoyment of life after an accident?”
A serious accident could strip away the hobbies, career activities, or experiences that once made life meaningful. Does the law recognize profound lifestyle changes as compensable losses in Charlotte, North Carolina? Yale Haymond Law PLLC comments below.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life as Non-Economic Damages
The North Carolina Department of Justice provides resources to help people understand their rights in personal injury claims, but with non-economic damages, a specific price tag can be hard to pin down. Unlike medical bills or lost wages, an accident’s impact on quality of life is measured in psychological harm and the loss of joy or fulfillment.
Can you sue someone for loss of enjoyment of life if:
A musician loses the finger dexterity needed to play?
A parent can't spend time with their child due to chronic pain?
A marathon runner can't compete again due to an irreparable leg injury?
Yes. Personal injury attorneys in Charlotte appeal to the court to recognize lifestyle limitations, despite the lack of receipt-based values.
A Charlotte Attorney’s Legal Approach to Loss of Life Enjoyment Claims
When an accident victim sees a lawyer, the questions don’t stop at “Can you sue someone for loss of enjoyment of life after an accident?” What about calculating and proving the loss in Charlotte, North Carolina?
Calculating the Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Here are two established approaches to assigning financial values to intangible losses:
The multiplier method takes economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost income, and multiplies them by a factor between 1 and 5, depending on the impact.
The per diem method assigns a daily monetary value to non-economic losses and multiplies it by the number of days the victim’s loss of life enjoyment will last. This approach suits temporary limitations with a recovery timeline.
Firms like Yale Haymond Law PLLC may recommend putting all non-economic damages together. Separating loss of enjoyment from pain and suffering can be complicated.
Proving Loss of Enjoyment of Life
The next step would be demonstrating significant lifestyle changes with compelling evidence that shows how the victim’s injuries have altered their daily activities. This might involve medical records, physician testimony, personal testimony, journal entries, and photographic or video evidence. Family and friends may also testify regarding personality changes or abandoned hobbies or sports.
Can You Sue Someone for Loss of Enjoyment of Life in Personal Injury Cases in Charlotte?
Yes, victims can sue someone for loss of enjoyment of life as part of a personal injury compensation claim in North Carolina. Pursuing these claims requires demonstrating clear connections between the accident, the injury, and the lifestyle limitation.
If insurance companies minimize non-economic damage claims, a Charlotte injury attorney can step in to protect the victim’s rights and highlight the benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer, including building strong evidence and presenting persuasive legal arguments to pursue fair compensation.
About Yale Haymond Law PLLC
Personal injury cases that include loss of enjoyment damages follow standard filing procedures in Charlotte, North Carolina. For answers to more questions like “Can you sue someone for loss of enjoyment of life?” contact Yale Haymond Law PLLC at (704) 800-4357.
