How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated in Lawsuits?

Pain and suffering is one of the most commonly sought damages in personal injury claims, although many claimants have no idea how much their pain and suffering is actually worth. Every case is different, and pain and suffering will vary.

However, your attorney will likely determine how much your pain and suffering is worth in one of two ways. Read on to learn more about how pain and suffering might be calculated in your lawsuit.

On a Per Diem Basis

One way your attorney can calculate the value of your pain and suffering after you’ve been injured is by determining a monetary amount for each day that you are suffering.

For example, let’s say you suffered a spinal cord injury that required you to be in rehabilitation for two years. Based on your daily pain and mental suffering, your lawyer will assign your pain and suffering a value—$75, for example. We will then multiply $75 by two years, or 730 days. In this scenario, your pain and suffering would be calculated at $54,750.

Consideration of Your Economic Losses

The other way pain and suffering is often calculated in lawsuits is based on your total economic losses. Economic damages are those that directly affect your finances and often include your medical expenses, your lost wages, your property damage, and the damage to your potential future earnings.

We will assign your injury a value somewhere between one and five, with one being least severe and five being most severe. Then, we will add up all of your economic damages and multiply that number by the injury value you were given.

For instance, if you suffered a severe burn, your injuries were given a multiplier of four, and your economic damages totaled $250,000, your pain and suffering would be valued at $1,000,000.

Call a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

If you’ll be claiming pain and suffering as damages in your civil suit and you are interested in learning more about the compensation you may be awarded, reach out to an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer with Lane Brown, LLC.

You can schedule your free, no-obligation case assessment today by giving our office a call at 312-332-1400 or completing the convenient contact form at the bottom of this page.

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