A bicyclist struck by a negligent driver or someone injured by a impaired motorist might have serious injuries that cost more to treat than the at-fault party’s insurance will cover. In New York, those harmed by the negligence or misconduct of another person could potentially pursue a personal injury lawsuit in civil court.
To succeed, not only do plaintiffs need to establish fault on the part of the other party, but they also need to ask for compensation for specific losses. The costs people seek to recover in such lawsuits often include medical expenses and lost wages. However, injured individuals may also need to consider the value of the unpaid work they perform around the home, especially if they are a part-time worker or a stay-at-home parent.
What value do household services have?
Being unable to wash the dishes or take care of the children for six months because of multiple broken bones is more than just a frustrating inconvenience. It is a source of financial hardship for families. The entire household will have to readjust to offset the loss of someone’s unpaid labor. It could cost money directly because they need to hire professionals or indirectly by taking time and energy away from other people’s jobs.
Especially when someone is a full-time child care provider in addition to maintaining the household and cooking, their services could be worth nearly $180,000 per year if they were to charge for them. The more someone does for their family without compensation and the longer they will remain unable to provide those services, the more reason they may have to include the impact on their daily lived function in a personal injury lawsuit.
If family members must pay a professional to provide those same services, the family could incur a lot of costs related to someone’s inability to continue providing services for the family. Loss of services can also be a valuable consideration in a wrongful death claim if those who lose a family member seek justice by asking for compensation in the courts.
Understanding what may contribute to the total value of a New York personal injury lawsuit can help people seek appropriate compensation from the parties that caused them harm.