What Does Loss of Consortium in Personal Injury Mean?

When reading personal injury pages and blogs, especially if you have been in an accident resulting in serious bodily harm, you might have encountered the phrase “loss of consortium.” This is not a commonly or colloquially used term, so there is a possibility that not everyone knows what it means. Loosely speaking, “loss of consortium” implies that someone has lost someone close to them, especially one providing companionship, assistance, protection, or similar.

Suffering this loss can be difficult, but you do not need to handle legal matters alone. A personal injury or wrongful death lawyer can provide valuable assistance, as they will have significant experience, access to helpful resources, and enough confidence to ease the navigation of the court system. Your lawyer can also help you understand other confusing phrases you might encounter during these complex legal matters. We encourage you to contact Younglove Law Group at your earliest convenience if you want to retain legal assistance.

What Is the Definition of Loss of Consortium?

According to California Civil Jury Instructions 3920, “loss of consortium” is defined as

“…the loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral support, losing the enjoyment of sexual relations, or the ability to have children.”

California only allows claims for loss of consortium by spouses or registered partners. This means the spouse of an injured person can receive monetary payment for this relationship loss.

Loss of consortium most commonly applies during catastrophic injury cases, meaning someone was responsible for an individual’s severe injuries, like the loss of a limb, and should pay for monetary and non-economic damages. You can also obtain similar damages in a wrongful death claim, though it does not require you to specifically pursue a claim for loss of consortium. Losing a loved one who provided some level of the consortium will apply to compensation under the non-economic damages portion of a wrongful death claim. If you need assistance identifying other economic and non-economic damages that qualify for payment, we encourage you to work with a wrongful death lawyer.

Should You Work With a Wrongful Death Lawyer if You Suffer Loss of Consortium?

We strongly encourage anyone involved in legal matters to retain support from an attorney, as legal representatives can handle significant tasks and remove stressful items from your task list. A wrongful death lawyer from Younglove Law Group can speak on your behalf during proceedings and other meetings, complete and file paperwork on your case, and level the playing field against other parties and representatives.

Please refrain from representing yourself during legal matters, as there is a significant risk that you will portray your case unfairly. This could result in reduced compensation you can obtain from your case, putting undue strain on your financial stability. Instead, a lawyer can represent you much more fairly and effectively, maintain the value of your case, and create solid arguments for you. We encourage you to speak with a lawyer at your earliest convenience to improve your odds of legal success even further.

Personal injury and wrongful death cases also allow you to receive compensation for attorney fees, and you only pay our fees when you win. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, so the at-fault party is more likely to cover our costs than you are. For more information, please connect with our team; we can answer any questions you have.

Get Support From Younglove Law Group’s Wrongful Death Lawyers

After an incident resulting in wrongful death or loss of consortium, the deceased’s family can have significant stress and confusion to sort through. However, you do not need to manage your legal matters alone, as a wrongful death lawyer from Younglove Law Group can provide valuable support. We have a track record of bringing success to victims and survivors, and our clients trust us to obtain the excellent results they deserve.

When you contact us, we can schedule your free consultation with a lawyer, answer your questions, bring calm to your concerns, and manage legal matters on your behalf. You can connect with our team when you call (949) 691-3660, use our toll-free number at (844) 810-1800, or complete the contact form on our website.