1 March, 2021
Many people have heard of the term “pain and suffering,” but they may not know what it means. Pain and suffering is a legal term used to describe the physical and emotional injuries following an accident. Keep reading to learn more about pain and suffering, what it entails, and how jurors or insurance companies calculate compensation. It may be difficult to prove pain and suffering in claims, which is why you may want to enlist the help of a qualified personal injury attorney.
Pain and suffering is the physical and emotional distress you feel after an accident. This can be physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering, or both.
Personal injuries following an accident due to someone else’s negligence may not only be painful but can also last for days, weeks, or even months. It’s also important to note that future pain caused by initial injuries qualifies as pain and suffering. Some examples of physical pain and suffering are:
Some of these medical conditions may be chronic, causing the victim pain well after the accident. Also, any potential future pain caused by an accident should be included in pain and suffering claims.
Mental pain and suffering is a byproduct of the experience and physical injuries. Just like physical pain, mental pain can last for weeks or be chronic. Typical cases of mental pain and suffering are:
Like physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering includes both the effects the victim felt at the time of the accident and the pain they may feel in the future.
To establish pain and suffering, you must provide adequate documentation to support the claim. Judges and insurance companies will ask for evidence when determining compensation. Some ways you can provide proof are:
The more evidence you provide, the more likely a judge, jury, or insurance company will see how it negatively affected your life. You may be able to collect the majority of the evidence yourself, but an attorney will be able to help gather proper documentation while you focus on your recovery.
Every personal injury case is different, which means the calculations regarding pain and suffering will depend on the facts surrounding your case. In most cases, judges do not give jurors or insurance companies much guidance on how much each case should receive. There are no charts, and most judges instruct jurors to use their common sense. However, there are two methods jurors can use to calculate pain and suffering: multiplier and per diem.
In the per diem method, a specific dollar amount is assigned to each day from the accident to when the victim fully recovers. A full recovery is determined when medical professionals do not expect the victim’s condition to improve or worsen any further.
The multiplier method takes the total amount of damages (medical bills, lost wages, etc.) and multiplies that by a number that depends on the severity of the victim’s injury. A judge or jury determines the multiplier. However, it can also be mutually agreed upon by the insurance company and the victim. The multiplier is often between one and five.
When another person’s negligence causes you pain and suffering, you should be able to collect the proper compensation needed to pay medical bills and to make up for the loss of wages. You are entitled to pursue full and fair financial compensation, and a top-rated personal injury attorney at The Barnes Firm can help you navigate the complexities of your case.
We have a proven track record of settlements for hundreds of clients. Reach out to The Barnes Firm today to discover all the ways we can help you after your accident. Complete our contact form today to schedule a free consultation.
The Barnes Firm (800) 800-0000
Written by The Barnes Firm, reviewed by Richard Barnes
Rich Barnes
President
Richard Barnes: “As President of The Barnes Firm, I have dedicated my career to achieving justice in hundreds of cases for the victims of injuries caused through the fault of others. Additionally, I have been honored to have been elected Best Lawyer and a Super Lawyer”
Years of Experience: 30+ years
LinkedIn Profile: Richard Barnes
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney president Rich Barnes who has more than 30+ years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury trial attorney.
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