Can stay-at-home parents pursue personal injury claims?

Personal injury lawsuits after car crashes and other incidents leading to injury help people cover their losses when others have caused their harm. Especially in scenarios where the party at fault doesn’t have adequate insurance, litigation in civil court can be the most effective options for obtaining compensation.

Those hurt by the misconduct or negligence of other people or even businesses can request compensation for property damage losses and medical expenses. Professionals who miss work or who sustain debilitating, long-term injuries can request compensation for lost wages and lost earning potential.

Most stay-at-home parents work around the clock and every weekend, but they don’t receive pay for the services they provide their families. Can they still pursue justice with a personal injury lawsuit if they get hurt and can no longer perform their household duties?

Employment status doesn’t dictate litigation options

People do not need to have an outside source of income to file a personal injury lawsuit. They may still have property damage losses and medical expenses to cover. They could also include the financial impact of their injuries on their family when calculating the amount to seek in a lawsuit.

The loss of their ability to provide household services can be a major financial setback. Stay-at-home parents perform work that is worth over $178,000 per year based on figures from 2019. Valuable household services may include:

• child care
• cleaning
• menu planning
• meal preparation
• cooking
• transportation
• household logistics
• lawn care
• home maintenance
• support for elder family members

All of those crucial tasks can be incredibly expensive if the family has to hire professionals to do that work.

Stay-at-home parents who cannot perform the labor they previously did can quantify how much work they performed for the family each week and use that as a basis to calculate the economic impact of their injuries. Stay-at-home parents who sustained major injuries in car crashes or similar incidents have the same rights as professionals who lose their ability to work.

Exploring options for personal injury compensation can help injured parents and caregivers hold those who hurt them accountable. Compensation is often available even for those who were not earning income from an employer at the time of their injury.