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What is Pain and Suffering in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

What is Pain and Suffering in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

When a victim files a personal injury lawsuit, he or she is seeking compensation for the losses or “damages” resulting from the injury. There are two general types of damages: economic damages (monetary loses, such as medical bills and lost wages), and non-economic damages (pain and suffering).

Our injured clients often ask us how it’s possible to obtain compensation for physical and emotional anguish. But sometimes, a person’s pain adds up to a bigger loss than the costs of his or her medical care. We frequently seek pain and suffering for our clients, because it’s what they deserve.

Calculating Pain and Suffering

To figure out pain and suffering damages, our attorneys first review all the details of a client’s case. The amount we seek depends on factors such as (but not limited to):

  • The severity of the plaintiff’s injuries
  • How long the injuries will affect the victim
  • Whether the incident worsened existing health issues
  • If the plaintiff lost enjoyment of hobbies and daily activities
  • Whether the victim’s spouse is enduring a loss of companionship, affection, etc.

We look at all the losses our client and his or her family has suffered as a result of the injury. Then, we can determine what would be fair compensation for pain and suffering.

Why Sue for Pain and Suffering?

Some clients who are initially reluctant to file a lawsuit ask if they are required to get pain and suffering damages. Whether it’s an appropriate move depends on their individual situation and the factors listed above.

Other clients fear they will NOT be able to obtain non-economic damages due to constraints like Pennsylvania’s limited tort insurance coverage. However, our attorneys know all the exceptions to the rules. We frequently obtain pain and suffering damages for auto accident clients, even when they had a policy with limited tort.

How We Can Maximize Compensation for You

The Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers have handled more than 25,000 personal injury claims over the past 25 years. Our firm has the experience to stand up to negligent parties who don’t want to pay for a victim’s pain and monetary losses. We have a reputation for pursuing the critical details that maximize compensation for our clients.

If you’re ready to schedule a free initial consultation, you can call or fill out the online form.