|
|
Article: Seeking recovery for loss of enjoyment of life. (Proof of Damages)
- Article from:
- Trial
- Article date:
- April 1, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 American Association for Justice, formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA®). This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Damages for loss of enjoyment of life (LEL), or hedonic damages as they are often called, compensate people for the deprivation of life's satisfactions and rewards caused by injury or death. When the negligence causes injury that deprives a person of the ability to enjoy many of life's activities, from mundane to exciting, that loss deserves compensation.
While the goal of tort damages has always been to make the injured party "whole," traditional damage measures have focused on pecuniary losses like medical expenses and lost income, with nonpecuniary losses limited to pain and suffering. The ability to live a full life, however, means more than earning a ...