Schmerzensgeld
In short
A German court recently rejected claims for Schmerzensgeld by relatives of the victims of the 2015 Germanwings plane crash. The Braunschweig District Court ruled that the state is not liable for these additional compensation payments.
In plain words
Schmerzensgeld is money paid to compensate someone for physical pain, suffering, or emotional distress caused by an injury or accident. It is meant to acknowledge the personal hardship suffered rather than just covering financial losses.
A simple example
If a person is injured in a car accident, they might receive Schmerzensgeld to compensate for their physical pain and the mental trauma of the event.
Why it matters
It provides a way for victims to receive recognition for non-financial harm. Recent legal rulings, such as the Germanwings case, show how difficult it can be for families to claim this money from the state.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse it with 'Schadenersatz', which focuses on replacing actual financial losses like repair bills or lost wages.
Sources
- Flugzeugabsturz: Kein Schmerzensgeld für Germanwings-Hinterbliebene
- Germanwings Absturz: Schmerzensgeld-Klage abgewiesen - der vergeblicher Kampf der Angehörigen
- Germanwings-Absturz: Gericht weist Schmerzensgeld-Klage der Hinterbliebenen ab
- Unglück ereignete sich 2015: Schmerzensgeld nach Germanwings-Absturz – Angehörige scheitern mit Klage