What is Non-Economic Damages?
Updated January 24, 2026
Compensation for subjective, non-financial losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.
Understanding Non-Economic Damages
These damages are harder to quantify as they compensate for quality-of-life impacts. There is no receipt or bill to document them. Some states cap non-economic damages in certain cases. Methods like per diem or multipliers help calculate these damages.
Examples
- 1Pain and suffering from injury
- 2Emotional trauma and mental anguish
- 3Inability to enjoy hobbies and activities
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.
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.
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.
Punitive Damages
Additional damages awarded beyond compensatory damages to punish the defendant for particularly egregious conduct and deter similar behavior in the future.
Diminished Value
The reduction in a vehicle's market value after it has been damaged in an accident and repaired, compared to a similar vehicle that was never damaged.
For Personal Injury cases
The record behind a term like this one is built by the client, not the file.
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