Baltimore is Maryland’s largest city, with a rich culture and history. It’s known for being a hub for education and healthcare but is not free of accidents.
Personal injury law gives individuals the right to seek compensation for damages caused by the negligence of others.
A type of compensation allowed under this law is non-economic damages, which compensates people for intangible losses. This is why it’s important for victims to hire a Baltimore personal injury attorney to support them through their claims process; otherwise, they may come away shortchanged.
Accident victims in Maryland should consider getting in touch with TopDog Personal Injury Lawyers. Founded by James Helm, this national network of law firms has the resources, expertise, and experience to tackle just about any challenge that arises in a personal injury claim.
Non-economic damages are awarded to victims of an accident to compensate for emotional damages. This is to compensate for things like mental trauma and the stress that victims may have experienced. These injuries are intangible, so the number of damages awarded varies greatly depending on the case.
Typically, the larger the damage, the more the compensation.
Types of Non-Economic Damages
Pain and Suffering: This damage is awarded to compensate victims for the discomfort they experience due to accident injuries. This can be something like the pain from a burn injury that the victim had to endure for a week and so on.
Loss of Enjoyment: This category of damages refers to the activities that the victim may have once enjoyed but is no longer able to do due to an accident. It can be things like hobbies or everyday activities like walking down the street to the store, etc.
Loss of Consortium: This damage is awarded to the family and loved ones of victims. If an accident resulted in them being deprived of love and affection from the victim, they are entitled to compensation for it. This acknowledges the impact of accidents on victims’ personal relationships.
Examples of Non-Economic Damages
For example, if a person is bitten by a dog, they may develop a fear of animals. They can sue for loss of enjoyment if being around animals was something they previously loved doing. The anxiety and stress caused by a fear of dogs is something that can be compensated under personal injury law.
Another example is someone who was disfigured due to a car accident. This can cause issues with self-esteem and prevent them from participating in any social issues. It could also have a huge impact on their relationships. Victims can be compensated for the loss of enjoyment they feel as a result of such injuries under non-economic damages.
Why Are Non-Economic Damages Important?
Holding perpetrators accountable
Non-economic damages hold perpetrators accountable for accidents in a way that makes them literally pay for their mistakes.
It is, therefore, an important tool for curbing accidents. They also send an important message that psychological damage is not to be taken lightly and deserves equal compensation.
Acknowledging Emotional Distress
PTSD, depression, and anxiety are some of the emotional consequences of accidents. They leave a long-lasting impact on victims. Acknowledging this damage can help victims in their healing process. It also provides some measure of justice for victims by punishing those responsible.
Supporting Recovery
A key benefit of non-economic damages is the financial resources they provide for victims to recover. It can be expensive to recover from mental health issues—people may not be able to look after themselves, and financial relief can be crucial in such situations.
From simple things like being able to hire some help at home to being able to take more time off work, financial compensation unlocks many avenues that may not be available to victims otherwise.
Conclusion
In conclusion, non-economic damages play an important role in personal injury law, as they can greatly affect the value of a claim. Any kind of emotional distress that a victim experiences due to an accident can be compensated. It is important for victims to know about these damages so they don’t miss out on receiving fair compensation.
A competent lawyer will be able to guide victims through the claims process, so it’s important to get legal representation.
