Pain and Suffering
What Is 'Pain and Suffering' Compensation?
Anyone who is injured because of someone else's negligence or carelessness is entitled to compensation for 'pain and suffering' from that person. Pain and suffering, which is short for physical pain and mental/emotional suffering, also includes things such as loss of enjoyment of life and inconvenience. For example, if you can no longer enjoy hiking, taking bike rides, or even sitting down to watch a movie because the pain from an accident makes these things uncomfortable, then these are examples of 'pain and suffering.' These are activities that add to our enjoyment of life, and if an injury that is not your fault makes these activities less enjoyable, then it is only fair that you are compensated for that.
How Much Is My 'Pain and Suffering' Worth?
First off, despite what some people may think, there is no magic formula for what your 'pain and suffering' is worth. The value of your 'pain and suffering' is different in every case because injuries affect people differently. For example, someone who led a very active lifestyle before an injury may be affected more than someone who didn't. Or someone who works long hours at a physically-demanding job may experience more 'pain and suffering' than someone who doesn't.
And unlike calculating your medical bills or lost wages, calculating and proving your 'pain and suffering' is more difficult for an inexperienced attorney. The more "evidence" of your pain and suffering, the more your pain and suffering will be worth. An experienced attorney will know what type of "evidence" to use to prove your pain and suffering. For example, depending on the case, an attorney can use photographs, videos, letters/statements from friends and family, and sometimes even social media, as "evidence" of your pain and suffering.
There is no shortcut to obtaining this evidence. A good attorney must take the time to get to know his client and what he is going through so that he can effectively argue it to the insurance company or jury.
Unfortunately, many larger firms with hundreds of clients may not have the time to really get to know you and what you are going through.
Here at Gama Law Firm, I take the time to get to really know my clients because that is the only way that I can begin to understand what you are going through.
Every injury case is different because every person is different, so it is critical to speak with an experienced injury attorney who is willing to take the time to get to know you and your injuries. Denver, CO accident attorney Richard Gama does nothing but personal injury cases and offers a FREE consultation to discuss your case and how best to prove your pain and suffering after a car crash or other serious injury.