what type of lawyer handles loss of consortium cases

by Jadyn Berge 10 min read

Can a lawyer bring a claim for loss of consortium?

 · Do I Need a Lawyer to Recover Damages for Loss of Consortium? The laws that regulate loss of consortium can be very complex and will vary from state to state. If you believe that you have a loss of consortium claim, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you understand your state’s laws. A personal injury attorney can also represent you in court and …

What is a loss-of-cons consortium suit?

 · The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can offer free legal options about handling a loss of consortium claim. Contact our personal injury law firm at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today to schedule a free consultation.

What is loss of consortium in a wrongful death case?

 · The Rothman Law Firm has experience with loss of consortium claims and all manner of personal injury cases. If you are looking for an experienced New York and New Jersey personal injury lawyer to handle your loss of consortium claim or other legal issue, please feel free to contact The Rothman Law Firm to request a free consultation.

Does New Mexico allow loss of consortium claims for unmarried partners?

 · The legal definition of loss of consortium is the emotional distress or harm that is inflicted on the family members or loved ones of an accident victim. It is one of the types of legal damages that is recoverable in a personal injury claim. lost intimacy. Regardless of the name, loss of consortium aims to compensate the victim’s loved ones ...

What are damages for loss of consortium?

In this context, the word consortium means "(the right of) association and fellowship between two married people". Damages may be claimed under three theories: incurred medical costs or those yet to be incurred by the plaintiff, the loss of an injured spouse's services, and loss of society (within certain parameters).

What are the elements for loss of consortium?

3. What are the elements of a loss of consortium case in California?A valid and lawful marriage or registered domestic partnership,A wrongful injury to the plaintiff's spouse or partner,The plaintiff suffered loss of consortium, and.The loss of consortium was caused by the injury to the spouse or partner.

What is loss of consortium example?

Loss of Consortium Defined Loss of companionship and society is when the non-injured spouse has lost the companionship of marriage. For example, they aren't able to enjoy the love and affection of the injured party.

What is the value of a loss of consortium claim?

Compensation Value of Consortium Claims. There are no laws or regulations that precisely determine the monetary value of a loss of companionship or consortium claim in any state. However, because loss of consortium damages include non-economic damages, they are subject to caps in some states.

Is loss of consortium a cause of action?

Loss of Consortium is an action for damage type that arises out of an underlying negligence action. It is a common law cause of action where a spouse of an injured person can bring their own claim for damages as a result of an injury suffered by his/her spouse caused by a defendant's tort.

Which of the following is not a compensable harm in a loss of consortium claim?

The loss of a parent-child relationship is not compensable through a loss of consortium claim. However, these other losses may be compensable under other theories of recovery. Traditionally, loss of consortium meant only the loss of the ability to have sexual relations and children.

Who can recover for loss of consortium?

What damages are recoverable? (2.) The loss of the enjoyment of sexual relations or the ability to have children. A loss-of-consortium plaintiff may recover for harm he or she has suffered to date and for harm he or she is reasonably certain to suffer in the future.

What is a consortium lawsuit?

What is Loss of Consortium? As part of a personal injury lawsuit, a loss of consortium action is usually a standalone claim brought by the spouse or family member of a person who has been injured or killed as a result of the defendant's negligent or intentional action.

Is loss of consortium a compensatory damage?

Review of California's Loss of Consortium Law Loss of consortium entitles a plaintiff to recover non-economic compensatory damages. They are subjective damages to compensate somebody for the loss of the spouse's or domestic partner's normal relations.

What is considered mental anguish?

In reference to law, mental anguish means a relatively high degree of mental pain and suffering one party inflicts upon another.

What is a consortium claim?

January 4, 2021 / Serious Injuries. A loss of consortium claim is often a standalone claim brought by the spouse of an individual who has been injured or killed as the result of a defendant's negligence.

What is loss of enjoyment of life?

From a legal perspective, “loss of enjoyment” or “loss of enjoyment of life” refers to the ways in which a serious injury impacts someone's quality of life, so they receive less enjoyment from the things they were able to do before the accident.

What does loss of consortium mean in law?

Deprivation of the benefits of a family relationship (including affection and sexual relations) due to injuries caused by a tortfeasor. The spouse of someone injured or killed in an accident can sue for damages based on loss of consortium.

What are the remedies for interference with the right of consortium?

REMEDIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CONSORTIUM. Enticement: Some positive and wilful act of a third party that leads to the separation of the spouse. The third party must have intended the separation. Ignorance of marital status and honest advice given on request can be a defense.

Is loss of consortium a general or special damage?

Loss of consortium is a type of harm that usually falls under the category of "general" or non-economic damages, meaning they are losses for which money is only a rough substitute. Other examples of general damages include: pain and suffering. humiliation and embarrassment.

What is considered mental anguish?

In reference to law, mental anguish means a relatively high degree of mental pain and suffering one party inflicts upon another.

A Loss of Consortium Claim Providing Additional Monetary Compensation

A loss of consortium claim helps families involved in a domestic relationship recover damages in financial compensation after an accident that harmed or killed a family member. Loss of consortium claims frequently arises after a sudden and severe personal injury like a car crash, workplace injury, or another tragic personal injury accident.

Defining a Loss of Consortium Claim

Loss of consortium is a legal definition used in tort law, referring to an individual’s declaration of benefits once provided in a family relationship that was lost due to injuries caused by someone else’s negligence or intentional act.

Who is Eligible to File a Loss of Consortium Claim?

Loss of consortium claims can be filed against any perpetrator of an intentional climb, like rape, assault, or battery. Typically, spouses and domestic partners are eligible to file a loss of consortium lawsuit or personal injury case on two different scenarios, including at the spouse was injured or killed.

Recover Non-Economic Damages in Lost Consortium Claims

A personal injury attorney specializing in resolving lost consortium claims can offer free legal advice during an initial consultation. Many family members can file a loss of consortium case, including spouses and domestic partners (the non-injured spouse of the injured victim) to recover:

How to Prove a Loss of Consortium

Typically, lost consortium cases involve spouses harmed in a car accident with physical injuries or emotional trauma so severe they can no longer provide affection, love, companionship, and sexual relationship to the other spouse.

Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer Specializing in Loss of Consortium Cases

Was your loved one injured through negligence or intentional act, or died through a wrongful death caused by another? The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can offer free legal options about handling a loss of consortium claim.

The Damages You May Be Entitled to Receive

In a personal injury or wrongful death case, you will ask to be compensated for the losses you suffered. If your spouse survived, you are entitled to make a claim for loss of consortium. You should read further for more information about monetary compensation you can receive if a loved one was a victim of wrongful death.

Proving Loss of Consortium Cases

It can be difficult to prove loss of consortium cases. That’s because loss of consortium is such a subjective area. It suffers from the same challenges as other emotional claims. It’s simple to demonstrate that a victim lost physical things because a monetary value can be placed on them rather easily.

Who Is Entitled to Bring a Loss of Consortium Claim?

In the past, the only people able to bring a loss of consortium claim have been spouses. Now, courts are allowing domestic partners to bring these claims. Some states allow children and the parents of a deceased loved one to bring these claims as well.

The Difficulties of Proving Loss of Consortium

It can also be difficult to obtain monetary compensation for loss of consortium because some laws or insurance policies intend for it to be that way. For example, some jurisdictions require that you prove that you were in a valid marriage with your spouse.

Defining Loss of Consortium

When a loss of consortium claim is filed as part of a personal injury lawsuit, this is typically a standalone action brought by a spouse or other family member of the person who has been injured or killed as a result of the careless or negligent actions of another.

How to Calculate Loss of Consortium for a Personal Injury Claim

When working to calculate the total amount of compensation for loss of consortium damages, we will find that these are classified as “general” or non-economic damages. This means that they are relatively immeasurable and harder to calculate than other types of personal injury losses.

Working With an Attorney for Your Personal Injury Case

If you or somebody you care about has been injured as a result of the careless or negligent actions of somebody else, seek legal assistance as possible. If your loved one has been injured or killed, you may have a loss of consortium claim that you can file against the negligent party.

What is loss of consortium?

Loss of consortium, a type of legal damage, refers to deprivation of the benefits of a relationship, usually between a husband and wife, including household duties, caregiving, companionship and sexual intimacy. Plaintiffs make loss of consortium claims when their spouse or family member is seriously injured or killed, ...

Where did the concept of loss of consortium come from?

Some legal scholars trace the concept of damages related to loss of consortium back to English common law, and others find its roots as far back as Roman law. In both cases, loss of consortium claims and reparations were aimed at compensating a husband for missing property (his wife) and the value it posed.

Can same sex couples claim loss of consortium?

In general, it seems the Supreme Court has determined that same sex married couples can claim loss of consortium damages.

Is a claim for loss of consortium limited to married partners?

In the aforementioned New Mexico case of Lozoya v. Sanchez, the court ruled that "a claim for loss of consortium is not limited to married partners," but most other courts have disagreed. According to one scholar, almost every court given the opportunity has denied the right of unmarried cohabitants to claim loss of consortium.

Is New Mexico a consortium state?

As of 2012, New Mexico was the only state to allow loss of consortium claims for unmarried partners. In the opinion of the New Mexico Supreme Court, a person makes such a claim "to recover for damage to a relational interest, not a legal interest," meaning the court should not use legal status (marriage) as a stand-in for significant relational interest.

Can a child make a loss of consortium claim?

Similarly, parents have largely been permitted to make loss of consortium claims in the event of serious or fatal injury to a child. This type of claim, a filial consortium claim, ...

Can a child claim parental consortium?

Loss of consortium laws vary state to state, but multiple courts have allowed children to claim damages related to the loss or injury of their parent or guardian, often referred to as parental consortium damages. One court ruled that an individual could bring a loss of consortium claim as long as they had a "significant enough relational bond" with the victim (injured or deceased parent). In general, the ability of a child to make such a claim depends entirely upon the relevant state law, or common law, and a court's interpretation of it.