Out-of-pocket costs.
A severe injury can force victims and families to spend money on unplanned expenses such as moving to a one-story home, modifying their living spaces to accommodate a disability, arranging home nursing care, or hiring someone to watch children or help with lawn maintenance.
Future losses.
A partial or total disability can rob a victim of future earning capacity, as well as rob him or her of future opportunities. For example, a woman who is paralyzed after an accident may not be able to bear children, greatly affecting her quality of life.
Pain and suffering.
Pain and suffering, or non-economic damages, is an amount awarded by the court above and beyond economic losses. While some states place limits on the amount of non-economic damages allowed in personal injury cases, Rhode Island does not cap pain and suffering damages in personal injury cases.
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