What is Hedonic Damages?
Compensation awarded for the loss of enjoyment of life, reflecting the diminished ability to participate in and enjoy the activities and pleasures that made life fulfilling before the injury.
Understanding Hedonic Damages
Hedonic damages are separate from pain and suffering and focus specifically on the loss of life's pleasures. They may include the inability to play sports, enjoy hobbies, travel, or engage in social activities. Some jurisdictions recognize hedonic damages as a distinct category, while others include them within general non-economic damages. Expert economists may testify about the monetary value of these losses.
Examples
- 1Former marathon runner who can no longer jog due to knee injury
- 2Musician who lost fine motor skills and cannot play guitar
- 3Parent unable to play actively with children due to back injury
Related Terms
Pain and Suffering
A category of non-economic damages compensating injury victims for physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life caused by their injuries.
Non-Economic Damages
Compensation for subjective, non-financial losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.
Day-in-the-Life Video
A documentary-style video that records the plaintiff's daily routine to demonstrate how their injuries have affected their ability to perform everyday activities.
Loss of Consortium
A claim by the spouse or family member of an injured person for the loss of companionship, affection, comfort, and sexual relations resulting from the injury.
Mitigation of Damages
The legal duty of an injured party to take reasonable steps to minimize their losses and avoid making their injuries worse after an accident.
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