Calculating compensation after a car accident is easy, especially with the help of a Lake Oswego car accident lawyer. Medical reports and hospital bills can determine how much money you would require for your injuries; your employment record can determine your lost wages, and so on. However, one thing that can be difficult to put in numbers is the pain and suffering you go through after the accident.
Every accident case is different, and therefore comparing your situation with another one and setting an amount for pain and suffering would not be correct. Your pain and suffering are calculated based on how much the accident has affected your day-to-day life.
What are the pain and suffering damages in a car accident?
Pain and suffering damages differ from the other damages acquired from a car accident. It refers to physical pain and discomfort as well as psychological trauma and emotional distress. Car accidents can cause people to acquire anxiety and stress, have nightmares and flashbacks of the incident, and fear driving or being on the road.
A car accident trauma can affect a person’s personal life significantly. They may not be able to perform well on their job or may fail to concentrate in school/college. All these factors decide your amount of pain and suffering.
How are pain and suffering calculated in a car accident?
Many car accident victims use a daily rate method to determine their pain and suffering. The idea is to decide an everyday rate for your pain and suffering to get paid accordingly. The tricky part about this method is choosing an amount and justifying it. You need to prove facts that determine that the amount you selected is reasonable.
For example, suppose you have been in an accident, and the doctor says you need to rest for four months, which constitutes 120 days. This equals 120 days of pain and suffering. Here, you need to multiply your per day income at your current job with the number of days of discomfort.
Another method that can be used in determining the total cost of all your damages and multiplying them with a number between 1.5 and 5. The degree of the multiplier determines the extent of your pain and suffering. The value of the multiplier depends on several factors such as the seriousness of your injuries, how much your injuries impact your life, which party was liable for the collision, how much time it would require for you to recover, and other factors.
