What are non-economic damages?

Non-economic damages include things such as loss of counsel, mental and emotional anguish or loss of consortium. Many other harms qualify as non-economic damages such as, permanent disability, trauma, disfigurement, and other monetary losses.

Non-economic damages are not easily quantified in dollar amounts. These damages are distributed to families of victims who have died or to severely injured victims. In Texas, there is a cap on
non-economic damages in wrongful death medical malpractice lawsuits. The cap varies depending on several factors, including the number of defendants being sued.

Non-economic damages differ from economic damages, which include medical bills, lost wages and loss of future income.

Other Wrongful Death FAQs:

• Am I able to recover medical expenses in my wrongful death lawsuit?
• Are a wrongful death claim and a survival claim the same thing?
• Are all costs associated with a wrongful death lawsuit award/settlement flexible?
• Are there certain types of compensation I may claim in a wrongful death lawsuit?
• Are there different factors at play that may impact how much I could be awarded in a wrongful death case?
• Can a wrongful death action be filed for an unborn baby?
• Can anyone file a wrongful death lawsuit? Or are there only specific people that may do so?
  • If I file a wrongful claim in the death of my husband, what does an attorney need to prove on my behalf to allow me to get compensation?
  • My sister was recently killed in an accident at her workplace that was caused by her employer not providing her with the proper safety training or equipment. Can I file a wrongful death lawsuit?
• Can punitive damages be awarded in wrongful death lawsuits?
• Do I need to hire an attorney to handle a wrongful death lawsuit?
• Does a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit have to be shared with all relatives?
• Does a wrongful death lawsuit have to be filed immediately after a death? Or is there a window of time allowed?
• Does every state have identical laws regarding filing a wrongful death claim?
• Does it matter how old the deceased is when a wrongful death action is filed?
• How are damages determined in a wrongful death lawsuit?
• How does Texas law define parents when it comes to filing a wrongful death claim/survival claim?
• How is economic loss calculated in a wrongful death lawsuit?
• How is non-economic loss calculated in a wrongful death lawsuit?
• How much time do I have to file a wrongful death claim in Texas?
• I am filing a wrongful death lawsuit and I am wondering if there is a cap on how much I am able to receive in damages/settlement in Texas?
• I am not legally married but lived with my deceased partner for over 15 years. My spouse was killed in a big rig accident. Can I file a wrongful death claim?
• I have been advised to file a wrongful death lawsuit as a result of my husband being killed at work by a colleague. What compensation may I be eligible for in Texas?
• If every state has a wrongful death statute, are they all the same?
• If I do file a wrongful death claim in Texas, what do I need to prove to possibly get compensation?
• If I file a wrongful death lawsuit in Texas, what compensation is available to me?
• If I file a wrongful death lawsuit, what do I have to prove to be eligible for compensation?
• If I file a wrongful death lawsuit, what do I need to prove for a successful claim?
• If someone I know dies, do I file a civil or a criminal lawsuit?
• Is a survival claim and a wrongful death claim the same thing?
• Is a Texas wrongful death claim different from a wrongful death claim filed in New Mexico or another state?
• Is there a limit to the number of individuals who may file a wrongful death lawsuit?
• Is there a statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim in Texas?
• Is there a statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim?
  • How long do I have before I must file a wrongful death lawsuit or lose my right to do so?
• My brother was killed in an accident where the other driver was texting. I want to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Can I do that in Texas?
• My husband died as a result of medical negligence. Does Texas have a cap on damages in wrongful death lawsuits as a result of medical malpractice?
• My husband was killed at work by a falling piece of iron. Is this a wrongful death case?
• My sister was killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Can I file a wrongful death lawsuit?
• My son was killed in an accident involving a drunk driver. He never had a job. If I file a wrongful death lawsuit, will it be thrown out because he never held a job?
• My wife died in a drunk driver car accident. Should I file a criminal or civil lawsuit? What’s the difference?
• My wife used to have a job, but she decided to stay home and raise the children. Can I file a wrongful death action if she did not have a job at the time of her death?
• My wife was killed in a car accident. I am a surviving family member. Am I able to file a wrongful death claim?
• Our son died before we were able to bring a personal injury lawsuit after a truck accident. Does that mean we cannot file a lawsuit?
• What are compensatory damages? Are they different from punitive damages?
• What are non-economic damages in relation to a wrongful death lawsuit?
• What are non-economic damages?
• What are punitive damages?
• What are survival claims?
• What are the common causes of a wrongful death?
• What difference does it make to a possible wrongful death lawsuit if there is more than one named defendant?
• What happens if someone dies before they have a chance to file a personal injury lawsuit?
• What happens to my award if there is more than one named defendant in my wrongful death lawsuit?
• What happens when there are multiple plaintiffs filing a wrongful death lawsuit?
• What is a survival claim?
  • Are survival claims the same thing as a wrongful death claim?
  • Is a survival claim different than a wrongful death claim?
• What is the concept behind a wrongful death lawsuit?
  • Can a wrongful death lawsuit be filed in Texas?
• What is the definition of a spouse under Texas law for the purposes of a wrongful death claim?
• What law do the courts in Texas follow in establishing a wrongful death claim?
• What types of damages are awarded in a wrongful death lawsuit?
  • What types of damages are paid out in a successful wrongful death lawsuit?
• When someone files a wrongful death claim in Texas, what compensation may they receive?
• Who can sue for compensation in a wrongful death case?