Determining Compensation for Pain and Suffering from a Car Accident

Car accidents are violent, terrifying events that can leave victims emotionally scarred in a range of ways – some of which are not immediately apparent. Seeking fair compensation for the pain and suffering you endure is an important aspect of your claim – and can be critical to your ability to fully recover. If you or someone you love has been injured by the negligence of another motorist, reach out for the skilled legal guidance of an experienced Chicago car accident attorney today.

Your Car Accident Claim

At its core, your claim involves demonstrating the other driver’s negligence in the matter, which can take all the following dangerous forms:

• Failing to follow the rules that regulate our roadways
• Distraction
• Exhaustion
• Impairment
• Aggression
• Excess speed 

And from here, you’ll need to prove your related losses, which can include all the following:

• Property damage to your car and its contents
• Medical bills
• Lost earnings on the job
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering

All but pain and suffering are grouped into the category of economic damages, which refers to those losses to which a price can be affixed. Pain and suffering, on the other hand, is no less real and no less damaging – but is more challenging to quantify since it is a noneconomic damage.

Calculating the Extent of Your Pain and Suffering

Because there is no straightforward mechanism for attaching a value to pain and suffering, insurance companies jump through hoops to minimize it. The fact is, however, that your pain and suffering is very likely to amplify your other losses, which can make your overall recovery more elusive. The pain and suffering you experience is very personal to you, and only you can adequately address it. As such, your injury attorney will help to ensure that the true consequences of your pain and suffering are well-represented and fairly addressed. 

The Multiplier Method

A common means of calculating the value of an accident victim’s pain and suffering is the multiplier method. This involves assigning a number to the degree of suffering you’ve endured, which generally ranges from 1 to 5. Your total medical expenses – including current, ongoing, and future – will then be multiplied by this number, and the result is the value assigned to your pain and suffering. The challenge here is ensuring that the insurance company assigns a fair multiplier, which is yet another reason why having professional legal counsel in your corner is so vital. 

It’s Time to Reach Out and Consult with an Experienced Chicago Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents wreak an incredible amount of damage – not the least of which is the pain and suffering endured by their victims. If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, it’s important to take the pain and suffering element of your claim seriously. The compassionate Chicago car accident attorneys at Saks, Robinson & Rittenberg, Ltd., understand the complexities of your unique claim and are well prepared to fiercely advocate for just compensation in every category of loss you experience. Learn more by contacting us today.