How Much Is Pain and Suffering Worth?

When you are injured in any accident, you are likely to experience pain and suffering. However, the type of accident you were in and the severity of your injuries can have an impact on the pain and suffering you experience. For example, an individual who has been involved in a construction accident in which one of their arms was amputated may have more pain and suffering than someone who broke their finger while in a bicycle accident.

However, it is important to keep in mind that even the smallest injuries can cause a great amount of pain and suffering. Therefore, no matter what type of accident in which you were involved, your pain and suffering matters, and you need to know how much it is worth in a personal injury claim.

How is pain and suffering calculated by a lawyer in Cherry Hill, NJ?

One of the first questions we receive from clients is usually about the worth of their pain and suffering. This is a natural question as you want to know how much money you should expect to be awarded due to your physical and mental pain. When we get this question, we start by explaining that pain and suffering are considered “non-economic damages” because they are intangible: they are not something that you can physically touch or see. As a result, these damages are much more difficult to evaluate when compared to tangible damages, such as medical bills, car repairs, and property damage.

This means that there is not a “one-size-fits-all approach” to calculating your pain and suffering. In fact, since each case is unique and different, your pain and suffering could be worth much more or much less than someone else who was involved in the same type of accident as you. It depends on how much evidence is available to provide an in-depth look into the pain and suffering you experienced from the accident. Some of the most important evidence pieces that may be beneficial for you to collect include:

• Journal or diary entries about your pain and suffering
• Statements or testimonies provided by family members, caregivers, or medical providers
• Activity logs
• Medical reports and records
• Psychological or counseling reports or records
• Photos
• Videos
• Receipts and prescriptions

Do insurance companies calculate pain and suffering differently than attorneys?

Insurance companies do tend to calculate pain and suffering differently than attorneys. When you file an accident claim with an insurance company, they will likely try to determine your pain and suffering damages by multiplying your tangible damages by a specific number. Remember: it is the insurance agent’s goal to do everything possible to reduce the amount that the insurance company owes you. Attorneys, on the other hand, work hard for their clients, fighting for every dime that they believe that they are owed based on their economic and non-economic losses.

What factors and circumstances can increase my pain and suffering damages?

There are several different factors and circumstances that your lawyer will take into account when trying to put a price on your case. Here are a few of the factors and circumstances that may increase your pain and suffering damages:

• How severe and life-threatening your injuries are
• Whether your injuries resulted in permanent disability
• The types of disfigurement or scarring you have
• Whether you have mobility or impairment issues from the accident
• How much your economic or tangible damages are
• How long it is expected for you to heal or recover from your injuries
• Whether you can return to work again in the future

Examples of pain and suffering losses

When it comes to identifying pain and suffering losses, a lot of our clients may be confused. This is because they know that the accident caused them excruciating pain and intense mental and emotional suffering, but they do not know how exactly to pinpoint their conditions or describe them. In order to help you gain an idea of what may be considered pain and suffering losses, we will provide a few examples that some of our clients have claimed below.

• Emotional distress
• Mental trauma or shock
• Physical and chronic pain
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of enjoyment of activities
• Humiliation
• Scars and disfigurement
• Disability
• Depression or psychological pain
• Anxiety
• Loss of companionship

If you have recently been involved in an accident and continuously experience pain and suffering, the Cherry Hill personal injury lawyers at Ferrara & Gable will help you seek the maximum amount of compensation possible. We will sit down with you, listen to your experience, help you determine how much your pain and suffering is worth, and stand up and advocate for the money you need to rebuild your life again. To get started, schedule a free, no-obligation case review with one of our lawyers today. Call our office or submit our contact form. We serve clients throughout South Jersey.