Quality of life refers to how an injury or illness affects a person’s overall well-being and enjoyment of everyday activities. It goes beyond just physical health to include emotional, social, and mental aspects of life. For example, someone who suffers a serious injury may experience chronic pain, limited mobility, or loss of independence, all of which can reduce their ability to participate in hobbies, work, or spend time with loved ones. This loss in quality of life is often a significant part of personal injury claims because it shows how deeply the injury has impacted the person’s happiness and daily functioning.
In personal injury cases, quality of life is considered under non-economic damages, which compensate for intangible losses like pain and suffering or emotional distress. Proving a loss in quality of life usually requires detailed testimony from the injured person, family members, and medical experts to explain how the injury changed the person’s day-to-day life. Courts and juries take these factors seriously because money can’t fully fix these kinds of losses, but compensation helps acknowledge the true cost of the injury. Evaluating quality of life allows the legal system to provide a more complete form of justice for victims beyond just medical expenses and lost wages.
