If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you know exactly how difficult that is. Traffic accidents, accidents on the job, slip and falls, and many other kinds of accidents that are precipitated by the negligence of someone else often lead to devastating results that should be adequately addressed in your personal injury claim. While the financial and physical damages associated with such accidents can be immense, the pain and suffering involved can be even more significant.
Compensatory Damages
When you think of the damages associated with injuries that are the result of someone else’s negligence, compensatory damages are likely to come to mind. Compensatory damages can be either economic or non-economic and often include:
Damage to property (such as damage to your vehicle in a traffic accident)
Medical expenses associated with the injuries you incurred
Lost wages on the job, which can extend to a projected loss of earnings into your future
Pain and suffering
The pain and suffering associated with a personal injury case is much less straightforward than the economic damages mentioned. Pain and suffering refer to the intangible damages you have suffered, and their effects can be overwhelming. Such damages can include:
Your physical pain
Your mental anguish
Your emotional suffering
Within these categories, there are elements that can influence how your pain and suffering is calculated, including:
The amount of pain you suffered as a direct result of the accident (your immediate pain)
The pain you endured as a result of the necessary medical treatment
Any chronic or long-term pain you are facing
The emotional/mental trauma you endured as a result of the accident
The degree to which your quality of life has been negatively affected
The degree to which the impact of the accident interferes with the normal course of your life
Any fear or psychological pain you suffer in relation to the accident's aftereffects (PTSD-like symptoms, for example).
Calculating Your Damages
While there is no hard and fast method for calculating damages related to pain and suffering in Texas, there is a general legal framework that is typically employed. This involves assigning a number that is known as a multiplier to your accident, and these range from one to five (with five being the most severe). Ultimately, your monetary damages are multiplied by the multiplier assigned to your case in order to calculate the legal monetary value of your pain and suffering.
Consult with an Experienced Killeen Personal Injury Attorney Today
The pain and suffering associated with a serious accident caused by someone else's negligence is often immense and should never be discounted. Brett Pritchard is a formidable personal injury attorney who is committed to aggressively advocating for the full range of compensation to which you are entitled, including your pain and suffering. We are here for you, so please do not hesitate to contact or call us at 254-501-4040 for more information today.