Compensation for Pain and Suffering in a Car Accident
Compensation for Pain and Suffering in a Car Accident
Car accidents can be stressful and harmful, affecting your physical abilities, finances, mental health, occupation, and overall well-being. Every year, about three million non-fatal injuries occur due to car accidents. If you have been involved in a crash, there is a chance that you will have to miss out on work, cover medical expenses, and handle insurance claims.
On top of that, the emotional toll of accidents can be overwhelming.
If this sounds familiar to you, then seeking assistance from a car accident attorney for a pain and suffering settlement may be in your best interest. Getting compensation can alleviate some of the stressors that result from car accidents.
There are two factors that can determine compensation: special damages and general damages.
Special Damages vs. General Damages
Special damages are easily quantifiable. They are measured by the amount of money it takes to cover losses. Examples include:• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Vehicle repairs
General damages are non-economic. Since they are intangible, they are more difficult to measure with a dollar amount. Examples include:
• Loss of companionship• Reduced quality of life
• Physical disfigurement or impairment
• Pain and suffering
Though these factors are palpable, it is hard to determine how much your general damages are worth because the grief felt may seem incomparable to any monetary amount. Yet, if you are suffering, indemnification can potentially ease that suffering.
What Is Considered Pain and Suffering in a Car Accident?
Pain and suffering refers to the physical and mental pain victims experience after a car accident. Pain and suffering in legal terms is getting compensation that covers the overall loss of comfort, ability, happiness, and opportunity that follows serious injuries.
Examples of Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering includes the mental and physical damages endured because of a car accident. Because mental and physical aspects of our functioning are interconnected, effects of injuries overlap in mental and physical damages. Physical pain can oftentimes take a toll on how our mental health functions. Pain and suffering examples include:• Long-term disability
• Shorter life expectancy
• Lasting physical limitations
• Physical pain and discomfort
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Physical changes such as scarring and amputations
• Changes in sleep
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Changes in appetite
• Overall mood changes
Judges and juries commonly take into consideration various factors of pain and suffering when considering compensation, including:• Age of victim
• Long-term damages
• Effect on enjoyment of life
• Future problems
• Mental health
Car insurance payouts for pain and suffering can also rely on evidence your car accident attorney presents. The above factors are taken into account and having sufficient evidence to prove their impacts will only make your case stronger.
Reaching out to car accident lawyers in the Denver metro area can be beneficial in the long run. Attorneys are responsible for presenting evidence to justify your pain and suffering after a car accident. They calculate your damages to help you receive the highest amount of compensation possible.
Pain and suffering after a car accident can be staggering. The attorneys Daniels & Scriven, P.C. will help you each step of the way.Contact us today (720) 863-6006 or DanielsScrivenLaw.com for a no-obligation case evaluation.
Stay tuned for the Next blog post from Daniels & Scriven, P.C. where we further explore how to prove pain and suffering after a car accident.