Loss of consortium is compensation awarded to the spouse or family members of an injured person for the loss of companionship, affection, intimacy, and support they experience as a result of their loved one's injuries. This recognizes that serious injuries don't just harm the victim directly - they also damage the relationships and quality of life shared with their closest family members. For example, if someone suffers a traumatic brain injury that changes their personality or leaves them unable to participate in family activities, their spouse may be entitled to compensation for losing the partnership and emotional connection they once enjoyed.
In personal injury cases, loss of consortium claims acknowledge that injuries can destroy or severely damage the intimate relationships between spouses or the bond between parents and children. These damages might cover the loss of physical intimacy, emotional support, companionship during activities the couple used to enjoy together, or a parent's inability to care for and guide their children as they did before the accident. While loss of consortium can be difficult to put a dollar value on since it involves intangible emotional losses, courts recognize these damages as real and compensable harm that deserves financial compensation separate from what the injured person receives for their own medical bills and suffering.
