Pain and Suffering Damages

Personal Injury Lawyer

Pain and suffering includes both the physical and mental pain people experience after an accident. These damages are more difficult to calculate than economic losses, such as medical bills and lost wages. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. Your lawyer can help prove that your pain and suffering exists and improve your chances of receiving fair compensation.

Common Examples of Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering can negatively affect many aspects of your life for a long time. Here are a few examples of pain and suffering.

  • Physical impairment. Some accident victims never completely heal from their injuries, so they may struggle to perform normal tasks without assistance, such as cooking, bathing and cleaning.
  • Disfigurement. In severe accidents, people may suffer disfigurement, such as amputation, burns and scars. They are left with lifelong physical reminders of the accident.
  • Debilitating pain. Unfortunately, some accident victims experience chronic pain even after they have reached their maximum medical improvement. Debilitating pain can make it more difficult to perform certain tasks and even get out of bed some days.
  • Depression and anxiety. Some accident victims may also experience severe emotional distress. They might battle depression and believe nothing matters anymore. These individuals may also experience extreme worry and uneasiness.

How to Prove Pain and Suffering 

As mentioned earlier, pain and suffering damages can be tricky to prove. However, with the right evidence, you may be able to receive fair compensation for your pain and suffering.

  • Go to all your medical appointments. If you suffered injuries in an accident, it’s usually not enough to see a doctor just once. For example, if you have been diagnosed with depression after an accident, your primary physician may refer you to a mental health therapist. It’s important to follow through with your treatment plan to protect your right to pain and suffering damages.
  • Write in a journal. It’s also a good idea to keep a daily journal describing how your injuries impact your life. For instance, if you suffer from chronic back pain after an accident and struggle completing the simplest activities, jot that information down.
  • Be cautious on social media. If you’re trying to claim pain and suffering damages, you must be extra careful about what you post on Facebook and other social media sites. The defendant’s insurance company may be looking at your social media profile to find information they can use against you.

Schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer, like one from Burton Law Firm, to discuss your case.