What Is a Victim Impact Statement in Civil Law?

Most people are familiar with victim impact statements from criminal court—those powerful moments when survivors or grieving family members speak directly to the person who harmed them. 

Think of the statements delivered by members of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team during Larry Nassar’s sentencing hearing, where athlete after athlete stepped forward to describe the lifelong impact of his abuse.

But impact statements aren’t limited to criminal proceedings. In civil personal injury cases, victim impact statements can play a crucial role in helping to illustrate the full scope of harm caused by an accident or act of negligence, not just in terms of financial loss, but in the actual lived experiences of the injured person and those closest to them.

What is a victim impact statement?

A victim impact statement is a written or verbal account describing how an injury has affected the person who was harmed. It’s not about proving who was at fault (that’s already being handled through the legal process). Instead, the statement helps the court or insurance company understand the full emotional, physical, and practical impact of the injury. 

A victim impact statement may be used to explain:

• How the injury has changed the victim’s daily life
• The pain and suffering experienced since the accident
• Emotional or psychological effects, like anxiety or depression
• The loss of hobbies, work, independence, or important life events

Victim impact statements help humanize the case, highlighting the real-life toll of an injury in ways that medical records and receipts cannot. A well-written victim impact statement can strengthen the case for non-economic damages by giving judges, juries, and insurance adjusters a deeper understanding of how the injury has changed someone’s life. 

Some victims choose to read their statements in court, while others submit them in writing as part of settlement negotiations or during trial preparation.

When crafted thoughtfully, a victim impact statement can reveal what the injury has truly cost—not just in dollars, but in confidence, identity, relationships, and day-to-day living.

Who can submit a victim impact statement and when?

In a personal injury case, the plaintiff typically submits the victim impact statement. In some situations, family members—such as a spouse, parent, or adult child—may also submit a statement, especially if the injury has significantly affected their life as well. 

For example:

• A spouse might describe how the injury disrupted their marriage, home life, or financial stability.
• A parent may share the challenges of caring for an injured child.
• An adult child might explain the emotional toll of helping a parent recover or witnessing their suffering.

Victim impact statements can be submitted:

What is the purpose of a victim impact statement?

The purpose of a victim impact statement in a civil case is to help others understand your injury’s real-world consequences. While financial records can document lost income or treatment costs, a victim impact statement tells the story behind the numbers.

A victim impact statement can:

• Show the human cost of an injury beyond what’s in the paperwork
• Support claims for pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life
• Personalize the case for insurance adjusters, mediators, judges, or juries
• Give the injured person a voice in a process that often feels impersonal

These statements are particularly important in cases involving catastrophic injuries, long-term impairment, or emotional trauma. They are a chance to explain not just what happened, but how life has changed—and what’s been lost.

What to include in a victim impact statement

There’s no single right way to write a victim impact statement, but most effective statements share a few common elements. Your goal is to be honest, specific, and personal—without exaggeration or unnecessary drama.

Common sections include:

1. Your life before the injury: What were your routines, hobbies, relationships, and responsibilities?
2. What happened (briefly): A short, factual summary of the incident that caused the injury.
3. How your life has changed: Pain levels, emotional toll, physical limitations, changes in work or home life.
4. What you’re still struggling with: Ongoing symptoms, therapy needs, fears, or lifestyle adjustments.
5. What you want others to understand: Your message to the insurer, court, or decision-makers about what the injury has truly meant.

The future of victim impact statements

In 2025, an Arizona courtroom witnessed the first use of artificial intelligence to deliver a victim impact statement on behalf of a deceased individual. Stacey Wales, whose brother Christopher Pelkey was killed in a 2021 road rage incident, used AI to generate a video of her brother speaking directly to the man who shot him.