How much you can get for pain and suffering after a car accident will depend on many different factors. For the most part, the value of your accident claim will depend on your expenses and financial losses. Pain and suffering are calculated in conjunction with these expenses in most scenarios; however, car accident attorneys may use other methods to negotiate for more appropriate compensation.
In most cases, legal teams and car insurance companies will communicate with eyewitnesses, local law enforcement, and medical professionals throughout their investigative process to determine what your pain and suffering are worth. If you are wondering what you may be eligible to receive, a Columbus personal injury lawyer who focuses on car accidents can assist you in answering these types of questions and more.
What Qualifies as Pain and Suffering in a Car Accident Case?
Sometimes, the kind of pain and suffering damages you are eligible to claim can vary by state. However, generally, you are entitled to these types of damages pertaining to aspects of your physical, emotional, and mental health:
- Physical pain
- Emotional pain
- Emotional distress
- Emotional trauma, such as PTSD
- Mental anguish
- Permanent injuries and their inconveniences and side effects
- Loss of enjoyment of life and former hobbies
- Loss of consortium
Your pain and suffering are considered non-economic damages. These aren’t as easy to calculate as your economic damages, as there likely isn’t documentation (receipts, medical records, repair estimates) to confirm their monetary value.
To calculate the value of these losses, your personal injury attorney will talk with you, family members and friends, and medical doctors to get an idea of how the accident and your injuries have impacted your personal life and independence.
Pursuing Compensation for Medical Bills and Other Expenses for Personal Injuries
There are several other possible forms of compensation for those involved in car crashes. Forms of possible compensation include the following:
Medical Bills
Car accidents have the potential to cause serious and life-threatening injuries. Some accidents result in health conditions that you may battle for the rest of your life. Even if injuries from an accident seem mild at first, more drastic symptoms can develop over time.
Possible forms of compensation for medical care include:
- Emergency medical transportation services
- Surgeries
- Medication
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation programs
Property Damage
If your car or other personal property was damaged in the car wreck, you may be owed compensation. Possible compensation includes coverage of vehicle repairs and the disbursement of funds to cover the costs of any personal property lost or damaged in an accident. Car insurance companies and lawyers will pay close attention to these details when establishing the level of compensation to which you may be entitled.
What is the Average Personal Injury Settlement After a Car Crash?
Settlement amounts for car accidents depend on many factors. The amount you can expect varies depending on the severity of the accident, your liability in the accident, and other conditions. Several details are used to evaluate settlement amounts. Liability claims may include everything from property damage to personal injury. But the fact remains: settlement amounts vary widely.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm to Learn More Today
There is no question that car accidents are an immense source of physical injury and other forms of pain and suffering. Navigating the legal system after a car crash can be difficult on your own, especially if you are trying to recover from injuries. If you are wondering how much you should get for the pain and suffering from a car accident, a lawyer who focuses on car accidents and personal injury will help you build a case and pursue any forms of compensation that you may be owed.
A lawyer from the Fitch Law Firm LLC will stand up for justice on your behalf and compile a case so you can focus on returning to your life. To talk to a member of our legal team in our office about your situation, call today.