When a serious injury changes how you move, work, or connect with others, your quality of life can suffer in major ways. In personal injury cases, the term “quality of life” often comes up when someone has been seriously hurt.
But what does that really mean, and how does it affect personal injury claims? This article will help you understand the importance of quality of life, how it’s measured, and why it matters if you’ve been injured.
What Is Quality of Life?
Quality of life refers to a person’s overall well-being. It looks at how happy, healthy, and comfortable someone is in their daily life. This includes physical health, emotional well-being, social relationships, and the ability to participate in enjoyable activities.
For example, if you used to enjoy hiking but can no longer do so after an accident, your quality of life has been impacted. Even small changes, like struggling to cook meals or play with your kids, can show a decline in your day-to-day happiness and abilities. In personal injury cases, quality of life often becomes a major factor when calculating damages.
How Injuries Can Affect Your Quality of Life
When you suffer an injury, it can change many parts of your life. These changes might be temporary or permanent, but either way, they can have a serious impact.
Common ways injuries affect quality of life include:
- Physical Limitations: Injuries can make it hard to walk, stand, lift objects, or complete basic tasks.
- Chronic Pain: Constant pain affects both physical and mental health, leading to frustration and sadness.
- Loss of Enjoyment: If you can’t do activities you once loved—like sports, hobbies, or social events—your life feels less fulfilling.
- Emotional Struggles: Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress are common after serious injuries.
- Career Challenges: Injuries can make it impossible to return to your job or continue in the same career path.
- Relationship Strain: Injuries often put stress on relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners.
Each of these factors can lead to a lower sense of happiness and satisfaction with life.
How Is Quality of Life Measured?
Insurance companies and courts try to measure quality of life changes by looking at several factors. While it’s not an exact science, there are tools and evaluations used to figure out how much your life has been affected.
Factors used to measure quality of life include:
- Daily Activities: Can you still perform basic activities like bathing, cooking, and cleaning?
- Mobility and Independence: Do you need help moving around or completing tasks?
- Work and Income: Are you able to work in the same capacity as before?
- Social Participation: Are you still able to attend events and interact with friends and family?
- Mental Health: Are you experiencing anxiety, depression, or emotional distress?
Doctors, therapists, and vocational experts often provide assessments to help document these changes. Personal diaries, photos, and testimony from friends and family can also support your case.
Quality of Life and Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury claims can include compensation for the loss of quality of life. This type of compensation is considered a type of non-economic damages, which means it doesn’t have a specific dollar amount attached like medical bills or lost wages. Instead, it’s based on how much your life has changed because of the injury.
Examples of compensation for loss of quality of life:
- Not being able to care for your children as you did before the injury
- Being unable to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, or biking
- Struggling with chronic pain that limits your daily routine
- Losing the ability to travel or participate in social events
In some states, there are limits, or “caps,” on non-economic damages depending on the type of personal injury case. However, serious cases with permanent life changes can still result in significant compensation.
Proving Loss of Quality of Life
Proving that your injury has reduced your quality of life requires strong evidence. The more documentation you have, the easier it will be for your attorney to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Ways to prove loss of quality of life:
- Medical Records: These show the extent of your injuries and how they limit your abilities.
- Therapist or Counselor Notes: Mental health struggles are an important part of quality of life losses.
- Personal Journals: Writing about your struggles helps paint a clear picture of how your life has changed.
- Witness Statements: Friends, family, and coworkers can explain how they’ve seen your life change after the injury.
- Expert Testimony: Professionals like doctors and vocational experts can speak about your future limitations.
Working with an experienced personal injury lawyer can make the process easier and ensure nothing is overlooked.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
At Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers, we know that quality of life is one of the most important parts of a personal injury case. It’s about more than just medical bills—it’s about how your injuries affect your happiness, abilities, and future.
If you or a loved one has been injured, don’t overlook the impact these changes have had on your life. Reach out to our experienced team to explore your legal options and ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve. Call us today at (801) 851-1202 to schedule a free consultation.
