So, if you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident, read on to learn more about calculating your pain and suffering for compensation in Las Vegas.
Emotional Distress: Pain and Suffering
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of pain and suffering calculations, it is essential to understand what they are.
Pain and suffering can be physical or emotional, and they are often the result of an accident. For example, if you are in a car accident and suffer a broken bone, you would likely experience physical pain and suffering. But if the accident also caused you to develop anxiety or depression, you would also be experiencing emotional pain and suffering.
Emotional distress damages are to compensate a victim for the psychological effects of an accident. This can include anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia, and more.
You must prove that the accident caused severe emotional distress to recover damages in Las Vegas. And while this may seem like a tall order, an experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorney will know how to build a strong case on your behalf.
Is Pain and Suffering Separate From Medical Bills
Pain and suffering is a legal term that refers to the physical and emotional anguish caused by an injury. It is important to note that this may differ from economic damages—which are quantifiable costs like medical bills or lost wages.
Pain and suffering are more difficult to calculate because it’s intangible. For example, if you were in a car accident that left you with chronic back pain, you would likely be able to receive a settlement for both the physical pain of the injury as well as the emotional distress caused by accident. Call the Dobberstein Law Group to learn more about how our team can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Calculating Pain and Suffering From an Accident
There is no one-size-fits-all pain and suffering calculator—the more severe the injury, the higher the award will be. This is because more severe injuries impact a victim’s day-to-day life significantly. For example, someone left paralyzed from a car accident will likely receive a higher settlement than someone who sustained minor cuts and bruises.
But regardless of the severity of the injury, some insurance companies will try to lowball victims on their pain and suffering settlements. This is why it is so important to have experienced Las Vegas injury attorneys on your side. These attorneys usually calculate this using one of two methods: the per diem or the multiplier.
The Per Diem Method
The per diem method is the simpler of the two methods. With this method, the attorney will assign a daily value to the victim’s pain and suffering. This daily value multiplies the number of days (or years) of the victim’s suffering. For example, if an attorney assigns a $100 per day value to a victim’s pain and suffering, and the victim can expect to suffer for two years, the victim would have $73,000 in damages ($100 x 365 days x two years).
The Multiplier Method
The multiplier method is a bit more complex. With this method, the attorney will first calculate the victim’s economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, etc.). Once done calculating the economic damages, the attorney will then apply a multiplier to that number.
The multiplier is usually between two and five, although it can be higher sometimes. For example, if the victim’s economic damages totaled $20,000 and the attorney applied a multiplier of two, the victim would have $60,000 in damages.
Hire an Attorney
Accidents can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. While no amount of money can ever truly make up for what you have been through, a settlement can help you move on with your life. Call the Dobberstein Law Group today to learn more about how our team can help you get the compensation you need and deserve.