What is Loss of Household Services?
What is loss of household services in personal injury law?
Loss of household services refers to the inability of an injured person to perform the daily tasks they used to handle at home, such as cooking, cleaning, childcare, yard work, and maintenance. This loss can be included in personal injury damages to cover the cost of hiring others to perform these services.
- Covers domestic tasks the victim can no longer do.
- Includes cooking, cleaning, childcare, yard work.
- Part of personal injury damages.
- Measured by replacement cost.
Why is loss of household services compensated?
Because these services have economic value. When an injury prevents someone from providing them, the household may need to hire outside help or rely on others, which represents a real loss.
- Recognizes economic value of domestic work.
- Compensates for hiring replacements.
- Helps maintain household functioning.
- Reflects hidden financial impacts of injury.
How is the value of lost household services calculated?
Courts and insurance companies estimate the number of hours of household work lost and multiply by the reasonable market rate for those services. This can be supported by testimony from the injured person, family, or vocational experts.
- Based on hours lost × market rate.
- Uses testimony and expert reports.
- Adjusted for injury severity and recovery time.
- May cover future losses.
Can loss of household services be claimed long-term?
Yes. In serious injury cases, these damages may extend for years or even a lifetime if the victim can never resume their previous household responsibilities.
- Long-term in serious injury cases.
- May cover permanent disability.
- Included in lifetime care plans.
- Can be significant damages component.
Conclusion:
Loss of household services damages recognize the real economic impact of losing the ability to manage one’s home, ensuring victims are fairly compensated.
What is loss of household services?
It’s the loss of the ability to perform household tasks due to injury, requiring replacement help.
Are these damages separate from lost wages?
Yes — they address unpaid domestic work, not employment income.
Do I need receipts to prove these damages?
Not necessarily — testimony and expert valuation can be enough.
Can family members provide replacement services?
Yes — but the value can still be calculated for damages purposes.
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