
Compensation for Loss of Consortium in California
Am I Eligible to Receive Compensation for Loss of Consortium in California?
- Loss of sexual relations or the ability to have children.
- Loss of companionship, love, comfort, care, protection, assistance, affection, moral support, etc.
Proving Loss of Consortium
There are 4 key elements a spouse -- or a registered domestic partner -- must prove in a loss of consortium claim:- The plaintiff and the aggrieved individual were either lawfully married or were valid registered domestic partners when the injury took place.
- Negligence or a wrongful act were the cause of a spouse or partner’s injury.
- The plaintiff suffered the loss of a spouse's or partner's consortium.
- The loss of consortium resulted from the defendant's wrongful act.
Recoverable Damages
An individual who loses a consortium of their spouse or domestic partner in the state of California may be entitled to recover non-economic damages. There is no real standard for determining loss of consortium damages and a jury may choose a reasonable amount to correlate with the seriousness of an injury. Naturally, the more long-lasting an injury is, the greater the award.Damages That Are Not Recoverable
Recovery for loss of consortium will not include economic losses. This means that losses due to an injured spouse's lost earning capacity or medical bills will not be covered. Furthermore, damages for loss of consortium will not include:- Personal care, such as a nursing service, for the injured spouse
- Loss of financial support that would have come from the injured spouse
- Loss of earnings a plaintiff suffered due to no longer working in order to help take care of their injured spouse
- Domestic household services to replace the services that were originally performed by an injured spouse
What if a Spouse’s Injuries Are Permanent?
Available damages may extend until the injured spouse’s anticipated end of life. In these cases, life expectancy will be measured as it was before the spouse's injury. The reasoning behind this is for surviving spouses not to be punished because an injury shortened their partner’s life expectancy. For example, a jury may choose to award a spouse a much larger amount of damages for both past and future loss of consortium, regardless of whether an injury significantly shortened a victim’s life expectancy.What Is a Valid and Lawful Marriage?
A plaintiff must prove a valid marriage or a registered domestic partnership existed at the time of the injury. If the spouse was injured prior to marrying or registering as a domestic partner , a plaintiff will typically not have a case for loss of consortium.West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here to Help
Our qualified personal injury attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers are highly-trained and have extensive experience with cases that are similar to yours. We are committed to helping you resolve your legal issues as quickly as possible while receiving the best results. If you or someone you know has been injured, reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our contact form.Free Case Evaluation
