What is your Pain and Suffering Worth?

Ladyblogger
December 30, 2012

Because accidents generally involve injuries, many victims of accidents often find themselves suffering from pain. This pain can be physical, mental and emotional and, in a technical sense, it can be financial. As a result, America’s court system allows injured victims of accidents to file lawsuits against the responsible party in an accident case in order to receive compensation for pain and suffering.

The Difficulty of Seeking Compensation

Compensation for pain and suffering can be quite difficult to calculate. After all, how can you put a price on pain? This is because people experience pain in differing ways, and what is unbearable pain and suffering to you may not be to someone else. Likewise, because it’s impossible to “show” someone your pain, it can be quite difficult to prove pain. Because of this, whether you ask a personal injury lawyer Reading PA firm or one in Seattle WA, they will confirm that many pain and suffering cases can become difficult to solve.

A Rule of Thumb

Even though it can be difficult to immediately and accurately determine the cost of pain and suffering, many courts, juries and attorneys believe a good rule of thumb to follow is that pain and suffering compensation will be between one and three times the actual damages. This means that if you suffered a broken neck in a vehicle accident, and your medical bills total $20,000, a jury may award you anywhere between $20,000 and $60,000 for pain and suffering in addition to compensating your for medical costs.

Subjectivity and Objectivity

In some cases, the above-mentioned rule of thumb does not apply. When an injury lowers a victim’s quality of life, the argument can become more subjective than objective. For example, if an accident causes a person to be bound to a wheelchair for life, and that person was an avid basketball player in his or her spare time, he or she may sue for damages related to the loss of the ability to enjoy his or her hobby. Because it’s once again impossible to put a value on something such as diminished quality of life or the loss of a hobby, juries may have a harder time reaching a conclusion regarding compensation in such cases.

Hire an Attorney

If you’re having a hard time determining the value of your pain and suffering after an accident, it would be a good idea to partner with a personal injury attorney. An attorney will be able to review your case and your injuries, and from there, he or she can give you options for seeking compensation. In most cases, a personal injury attorney can also represent your interests in court, and he or she will probably have an easier time presenting your injuries, even if they are unseen, to a judge and jury.

As mentioned, it’s important to remember that not all injuries are physical, and sometimes, mental and emotional pain can be much more difficult to handle when compared to physical injuries. As a result, you should never ignore the signs of unseen pain, including stress, depression, anxiety and insomnia. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms after an accident, it’s recommended that you work with a psychologist and your primary care physician to seek relief. Even if you don’t think that anyone can understand what you’re going through, there are medical professionals available to help.

Researcher Shelby Warden posts this article for those who are suffering due to the negligence of another. If you have been experiencing pain and suffering due to an accident, the personal injury lawyer Reading PA law group of McMahon, McMahon & Lentz is a firm you can trust to fight for your rights and help you recover the full compensation you deserve.