A serious injury can affect your life in ways too numerous to list. If your injury was caused by someone else, you have the right to seek compensation for all your losses, including the effects on your quality of life.
Quality of life (QOL) is a broad concept. The World Health Organization defines it as a person’s perception of their position based on their values and culture in relation to their standards, goals, expectations, and concerns. From a health perspective, QoF encompasses four dimensions: emotional, social, physical, and functional. Quality of life encompasses everything from physical and emotional well-being to functional ability, social engagement, and financial stability.
At its most basic, QOL refers to your satisfaction and ability to enjoy your life. A serious injury can affect your quality of life dramatically. You may no longer be able to engage in hobbies, care for your family, or even perform simple tasks without pain.
In personal injury claims, loss of quality of life is considered a non-economic damage. Unlike medical bills or lost wages, this type of loss doesn’t have a set dollar amount. However, it is a very real and significant consequence of an injury.
Quality of Life Metrics
Quality of life is highly subjective, and each person may define it differently. However, major quality-of-life metrics include:
- Physical health
- Psychological and emotional well-being
- Functional ability
- Physical pain level
- Independence
- Relationships
- Social standing and ability to participate in society
- Financial stability and access to resources
- Ability to work in a chosen field, support oneself, and contribute to society
- Living environment
- Safety and security
- The ability to participate in hobbies and recreation
- Satisfaction with life
Because quality of life is subjective, the best way to measure it is from a person’s perspective. It doesn’t make sense to tell someone they have a great quality of life because they live near the beach if they are unsatisfied with life and plagued by pain and health problems.
How an Injury Can Affect Your Quality of Life
A serious injury can affect nearly every part of your daily life. Damages for lost enjoyment of life consider the many ways your injury affects QOL, such as:
- Loss of independence: Tasks that were once simple, like cooking, driving, or dressing, may now require help.
- Physical pain: Chronic pain can make even small movements difficult and prevent you from enjoying life as you did before.
- Inability to enjoy hobbies and activities: You may no longer be able to enjoy activities like running, biking, or even playing with your kids.
- Social isolation: People who are in pain, disabled, or disfigured may withdraw from social activities due to embarrassment, depression, or functional limits.
- Mental health challenges: Anxiety, PTSD, and depression are common after a traumatic accident, especially if an injury changes your ability to work or live independently.
- Family and relationships: You may struggle to care for your children, maintain friendships, or enjoy intimacy with a partner.
- Financial insecurity: You can recover damages for your financial losses from your accident. However, many injury victims still face an uncertain financial future with a loss of control over how they earn a living and opportunities for advancement.
These losses are deeply personal and can vary depending on the individual. Some people adjust more easily than others, while some experience severe emotional distress due to their limitations.
Types Of Injuries That Can Reduce Quality Of Life
Many injuries can cause long-term or permanent damage to a person’s quality of life. Catastrophic injuries are the most severe, but any type of injury has the potential to have long-term effects.
Examples of injuries that may have a lasting impact on your quality of life include:
- Spinal cord injuries: These injuries often result in paralysis or loss of mobility, significantly limiting independence.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Brain injuries can affect memory, personality, and cognitive function, making it difficult to work or interact with loved ones.
- Severe burns: Burns can cause extreme pain, scarring, and disfigurement, leading to both physical and emotional suffering.
- Amputations: Losing a limb can make everyday activities difficult and impact a person’s ability to work.
- Vision or hearing loss: Losing the ability to see or hear can be devastating, especially if it affects your ability to work or engage in social activities.
- Nerve damage, joint injuries, and soft tissue injuries: Even seemingly minor injuries like ligament injuries may cause chronic pain and reduced mobility.
- Organ damage: Internal injuries can impair organ function, limit your independence, and affect your overall health.
These injuries don’t just cause physical limitations; they often lead to emotional, psychological, and financial struggles as well.
How Loss Of Quality Of Life Is Calculated
Unlike economic damages, which have a clear financial value, non-economic damages like quality of life are difficult to calculate. Insurance companies and personal injury lawyers consider many factors to assess non-economic losses, which may be called pain and suffering damages.
One of the most common ways to calculate non-economic damages, such as lost quality of life, is by using the multiplier method. This method multiplies your total financial damages by a factor of 1.5 to 5. The more severe and life-altering the injury, the higher the multiplier.
For example, if your medical bills and lost wages total $100,000, and your injuries are severe, a lawyer may argue for a multiplier of 4. In this case, your lawyer would negotiate for $400,000 in non-economic damages.
Keep in mind the multiplier method is used to determine a starting point for negotiations. There is no calculator or exact method for determining how much your reduced quality of life is worth.
The Role of Expert Testimony and Evidence
Since loss of quality of life is subjective, your attorney will present as much evidence as possible to justify the value of your lost quality of life. Evidence can include:
- Medical records and physician reports
- Testimony from family and friends about how the injury has changed your life
- Mental health evaluations
- Evidence of limitations and changes to your daily life
- Evidence of lost hobbies or lifestyle changes
- Journal chronicling your daily pain levels, emotional struggles, and challenges
For example, your lawyer may show that you lived an active lifestyle, traveled often, or had an active role in parenthood before your injury but can no longer do these things. The stronger the evidence, the more likely you are to receive fair compensation. Your lawyer may turn to experts in many fields to substantiate your limitations and the effects of your injury.
Why Quality of Life Matters in Personal Injury Cases
After a serious injury, your struggles go beyond financial losses. You may face a lifetime of limitations, pain, and emotional anguish. Recognizing and valuing these losses is essential for securing fair compensation in a personal injury claim. While money can never restore what you have lost, it can help you maintain your current quality of life and pave a new path forward.
If an accident has left you or a loved one struggling with reduced quality of life, Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers can help. We understand the impact of serious injuries and will fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (312) 635-5400 for a free consultation with a Chicago personal injury lawyer.