How is Pain and Suffering Calculated for an Auto Accident?
If you live in California, heavy traffic, and the dangers associated with it, are an everyday part of life. Los Angeles in particular has some of the highest rates of car accidents in the country. Since the statistics of experiencing a car accident are so high for Los Angeles residents, it is good to know what damages may be coming your way for personal injury should you find yourself in an accident. Hopefully you will never go through the hassles and injuries which come with a car accident, but if you do, it is likely that you will have a personal injury claim to bring to court if you were not at fault. One of the damages awarded for personal injury falls under the broad category of “general damages,” and is known as damages for pain and suffering.
Pain and suffering falls under the category of general damages because it is not an easily calculable number by which monetary compensation can be assigned. In other words, it is a non-economic damage, and in order to determine how much will be owed for the physical pain and mental suffering experienced by the plaintiff, a judge will have to make comparisons to other cases in which pain and suffering damages were awarded under similar circumstances. A jury will not only consider the present pain a plaintiff is experiencing but any potential future pain and suffering that is realistically plausible. The severity of such pain and suffering will be thrown into the calculation, as will the nature of the actual injury.
A good personal injury lawyer will have a sense of how much one can expect to receive if asking for pain and suffering damages, assuming the plaintiff wins the case. While there is a cap in California on the amount of pain and suffering damages which can be awarded, the compensation can still be substantial, especially when coupled with other awardable damages. On the basis of principle alone, pain and suffering damages should be sought out if you have in fact suffered for your personal injury.
If order to guarantee you get the most out of your personal injury claim, and to receive the maximum amount you are likely to receive for any present or future pain and suffering, you should find a lawyer who understands the nuances of trial, the intricacies of personal injury law, and has a winning case history to back up the promises. One of the best resources you can turn to if you live in southern California is the California Attorney Group. From Orange County to Los Angeles, these are some of the best personal injury lawyers in the area. They will bring their knowledge, experience, and abilities with them to make sure you receive all you deserve to receive as compensation for the pain and suffering you have gone through. When dealing with the slings and arrows of a personal injury case, especially when it involves an auto accident, you want to have the peace of mind that comes with good legal representation. No need to add to your pain and suffering. Time to alleviate it. Contact the California Attorney Group today.
