Understanding How Pain and Suffering Impacts Your Personal Injury Claim
Your personal injury claim establishes much more than the exact accumulation of medical bills. An experienced Orlando personal injury lawyer will always stress the crucial inclusion of pain and suffering in regards to your injury. Because of the sometimes subjective and unclearly defined nature of these claims, most major insurers are reticent to offer a truly fair compensation in regards to pain and suffering. For this reason, you need adept and knowledgeable representation from a qualified injury attorney in Orlando, to guarantee that your calculated damages are accurately assessed.
What is Pain and Suffering?
Pain and suffering is the continued emotional and physical stress that follows as a result of your injuries. Included in general damages, this physical and mental distress can include any symptoms of scars, depression, anxiety, or even chronic soreness. Unlike your initial injuries, pain and suffering refer more to the immediate or long-term discomfort you may be forced to endure. For example, a negligent accident may cause a victim to suffer a laceration across the face that heals quickly but leaves a permanent and unsightly scar. As a result, the victim must now contend with social anxiety and increasing depression over the disfigurement. Your personal injury attorney in Orlando will ensure that your claim for pain and suffering will atone for the long term symptoms even though the initial injury is only short term.
How Do You Show Evidence of Pain and Suffering?
Although emotional anguish can be difficult to assess, there are objective elements that yield physical evidence. An Orlando injury lawyer will build a case with multiple pieces of substantial evidence for an irrefutable claim.
Valid examples of evidence are:
- Physical symptoms of psychological stress (ulcers, hair loss, etc.)
- Doctor’s Diagnosis (depression, anxiety, constant pain)
- Witness Testimony (colleagues, family, employers, etc.)
Properly collected and recorded evidence will clearly show evidence of how your injury has chronically impacted not only your physical health but also your family, work, and any sense of normalcy. Medical experts and personal acquaintances alike will help paint a clearer picture of your struggle.
How is Pain and Suffering Calculated?
Orlando injury attorneys and insurance adjusters use a multiplier system in calculating the cost of pain and suffering. Each symptom is graded on a level of X1 to X5, depending on both the severity and the potential duration. While understanding the full breath of pain and suffering can be difficult, qualitative and objective values can be easily deduced.
For example, a spinal injury that requires repeated surgical treatments will end in long periods of soreness during an uncomfortable recovery. The pain medicine a doctor might prescribe may leave this person foggy, weak, and unable to enjoy time with family or participate in work or other important events. Pain and Suffering calculations from your Orlando injury attorney will include a just compensation for the repeated trauma of surgery, the constants pain, and the loss of life enjoyment from heavy medications. These details seem easily overlooked at first, but it is the residual life-long impact of a personal injury claim that makes your case important. Always start a conversation about pain and suffering when meeting with a personal injury attorney in Orlando, FL.