An injured person may demand compensation for their pain and suffering as part of seeking compensation for accident-related losses. Pain and suffering damages reimburse you for the physical discomfort and emotional distress you have endured because of someone else’s negligence.
The question is how much money for pain and suffering is correct in a specific personal injury claim?
In North Carolina there is no fixed formula for placing a value on physical pain and mental suffering regardless of whether you are negotiating with an insurance adjuster or in a trial. At trial, a jury will be instructed to determine what is fair compensation by applying logic and common sense to the evidence.
If Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. handles your North Carolina pain and suffering claim, we will pursue full compensation for your pain and suffering. We will take the time to understand how your injury has affected your life. Living with pain after a serious accident can limit your enjoyment of life and your future. We’ll present evidence showing the full extent of your losses.
How Is Pain and Suffering Compensation Calculated?
Liability insurance companies base their settlement offers in large part on what juries have awarded in the past when similar facts were presented in court. They keep large data bases on verdicts in all parts of the United States as well as in your local jurisdiction.
Typically, a jury’s pain and suffering calculation begins after calculating economic damages. This includes:
- Medical bills
- Lost income from lost work time
- Travel expenses for medical appointments
- Property damage, such as the cost to repair or replace a vehicle after a car accident
- Miscellaneous expenses attributed to the injury, such as help with house or yard work while recuperating.
When determining compensation for pain and suffering, some juries may base their awards on:
- A multiple of economic damages, often 1 to 5 times compensatory damages, depending on the severity of the injury.
- A per month payment based on the number of months between the accident and full medical recovery, often $1,000.00 per month, depending on the severity of the injury.
- If permanent injury is proven the jury might award pain and suffering for each day, month or year of your life expectancy.
Contact a Raleigh, NC, Personal Injury Attorney
With more than 100 years of experience, the attorneys at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., have developed their practice as a client-oriented law firm that utilizes state-of-the-art case management tools to ensure that clients receive the best representation possible. Our experienced North Carolina personal injury lawyers are committed to providing you with excellent, timely, and compassionate legal service while seeking maximum compensation for your losses.
It costs you nothing to speak with an experienced Raleigh injury lawyer during a free initial consultation. Contact us at 919-661-9000 or online today to get started.
About the Author
Robert C. Younce, JR
Robert C. Younce is an attorney at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. and concentrates his law practice on personal injury and workers’ compensation law. He has tried over 100 workers’ comp cases to Opinion and Award and about a dozen personal injury jury trials to verdict. He has been board-certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in workers’ compensation law since 2001.
