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.
Victim Impact Statement Template
Learn how to write a victim impact statement that clearly explains how your injury has affected your life. Includes tips, prompts, and a full example.
Download in PDF format
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:
- As part of a settlement package sent to the insurance company
- Alongside other documentation of damages (e.g., medical bills, wage loss reports)
- In preparation for mediation or arbitration
- Before or during a civil trial
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:
- Your life before the injury: What were your routines, hobbies, relationships, and responsibilities?
- What happened (briefly): A short, factual summary of the incident that caused the injury.
- How your life has changed: Pain levels, emotional toll, physical limitations, changes in work or home life.
- What you’re still struggling with: Ongoing symptoms, therapy needs, fears, or lifestyle adjustments.
- 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.
Wales had been thinking about her statement for two years, but when it came time to write it, she struggled to find her own words—until she heard her brother’s voice in her mind. Inspired, she created a script from his perspective and worked with her husband and a business partner to use AI tools to generate a video. Despite lacking a perfect voice recording or a clear portrait of Pelkey, they used a short video clip and funeral photo to build a lifelike avatar.
The final result was a 4.5-minute video in which an AI-generated version of Pelkey addressed the courtroom with a message of forgiveness and hope. “I believe in forgiveness and in God who forgives. I always have and I still do,” the avatar said. It concluded with a heartfelt farewell: “Well, I’m gonna go fishing now. Love you all. See you on the other side.”
The video was received without objection by the court. The presiding judge thanked the family for sharing it, stating, “I loved that AI. Thank you for that.”
While this statement was used in a criminal sentencing, it signals a broader possibility: in the future, victim impact statements in civil cases may also be delivered in creative formats—such as pre-recorded video, AI-assisted narration, or even virtual reconstructions—especially for those unable to testify live due to trauma, disability, or death.
Legal experts note that such uses raise questions about authenticity, consent, and fairness—but in the Pelkey case, many viewed the statement as a moving and ethical use of technology to give voice to the voiceless.