What Are Noneconomic Damages in a Car Crash Settlement?

 Posted on December 18, 2025 in Car Accidents

After a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. Most people understand that medical bills and lost wages can be recovered. But many do not realize they can also receive compensation for noneconomic damages. These damages address the ways your accident affected your quality of life beyond just financial losses.

Before you accept any settlement from an insurance company for a 2026 car accident, you should understand what noneconomic damages are and how they are calculated. Our Mt. Prospect personal injury attorney can talk to you about your case in a free consultation. We will help you understand your options and whether noneconomic damages are a viable option in your situation.

What Are Noneconomic Damages?

Noneconomic damages compensate you for losses that do not have a specific dollar amount attached to them. Unlike economic damages such as medical bills or repair costs, noneconomic damages address the personal suffering and lifestyle changes caused by your accident.

Common types of noneconomic damages in car accident cases include:

• Pain and suffering from physical injuries

• Emotional distress such as anxiety or depression

• Loss of enjoyment of life when you can no longer participate in activities you once loved

• Loss of consortium, which affects your relationship with your spouse

• Permanent disfigurement or disability that changes how you look or function

These damages recognize that car accidents affect more than just your bank account. They acknowledge the real human cost of your injuries.

How Are Noneconomic Damages Calculated in Illinois?

Insurance companies and courts consider several factors when determining noneconomic damages. The severity of your injuries matters. More serious and permanent injuries typically result in higher noneconomic damages. The length of your recovery also plays a role. Injuries requiring months or years of treatment justify greater compensation than those that heal quickly.

How your injuries affect your daily life is also important. If you can no longer work your normal job, play with your children, or enjoy hobbies you once loved, these losses deserve compensation. Your age may also be considered since younger victims may face decades of living with their injuries.

How Do You Prove You Need Noneconomic Damages?

Insurance companies do not simply take your word for it when you claim noneconomic damages. You need to provide evidence that shows how the accident affected your life. 

Medical Records

Medical records and testimony from your doctors can establish the severity of your injuries and the pain you experienced. Mental health records showing treatment for anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder following the accident support claims for emotional distress.

Physical Evidence

Photographs and videos showing your injuries, your limitations, or activities you can no longer participate in can be compelling evidence. Even social media posts from before and after the accident can demonstrate how your life has changed.

Your Testimony

Your own testimony about how your life has changed is also powerful evidence. You can discuss activities you can no longer do, relationships that have suffered, and the daily struggles you face because of your injuries. 

When Does a Car Crash Case Move to Court?

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates that between six and seven million car crashes happen every year. Many of these lead to insurance claims and lawsuits.

The vast majority of car accident cases settle without going to trial. However, sometimes taking your case to court is necessary. If the insurance company will not make a fair offer, filing a lawsuit may be your best option.

Insurance companies know which lawyers are willing to go to trial and which ones always settle. When they realize your attorney will take your case to court if needed, they often become more reasonable in settlement negotiations. Our firm has decades of experience in the courtroom and is not afraid to fight for you in front of a jury.

Contact a Mt. Prospect, IL Car Crash Attorney Today

Our Schaumburg personal injury lawyers at Grauer & Kriegel, LLC are willing to go to trial to fight for the full compensation you deserve. We have decades of legal experience and have secured over $150 million for our clients. We know how to build strong cases that hold negligent drivers accountable. Call Grauer & Kriegel, LLC at 847-240-9010 for a free consultation.