Getting injured in a car accident often means you’ll be dealing with high-cost medical bills, car repairs, and other expenses that you may not be prepared to pay for out-of-pocket. But physical injuries aren’t always the only types of injuries you experience.
Many people encounter prolonged pain and suffering after getting into an accident and that pain and suffering can impact your life and your well-being in ways that you may not expect.
Luckily, it’s possible to receive compensation for pain and suffering, but before you meet with a Chicago personal injury lawyer, you’ll want to understand exactly how pain and suffering work in car accident cases. Here’s what you need to know.
What Counts as Pain and Suffering?
When insurance companies issue settlements, they typically only cover the cost of medical bills and car repairs. These are the types of damage that you can easily document and are easily proven beyond the shadow of a doubt. Pain and suffering is a bit more nebulous.
Pain refers to the feelings of discomfort and physical pain you experience as a result of the accident. Suffering refers to the mental anguish or distress you experience after the accident. Types of suffering include but are not limited to the following:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Anger
- Anxiety
The key thing to remember is that conditions don’t have to be clinically diagnosable to qualify for pain and suffering. If you’re experiencing physical discomfort and emotions that you weren’t prior to the accident, it’s likely that you’re dealing with pain and suffering as a result of the accident.
How Pain and Suffering Is Calculated
Unfortunately, determining a firm value for pain and suffering isn’t as simple as determining how much you’ve spent on repairs or medical costs. You’re the only person who can truly understand how severe your pain and suffering is.
This can lead to questions with the insurance company about how much you deserve in a settlement. That’s why many Chicago personal injury lawyers use the multiplier method to help determine a reasonable dollar amount for your pain and suffering.
The multiplier method looks at the severity of your injuries and considers the economic impact that those injuries will have over the course of your recovery or your life if the injuries are so severe that you won’t recover fully. Your attorney will be able to help you determine the extent of your pain and suffering.
Know That You May Need to Go to Court
Though many insurance companies will be willing to adjust your settlement to include pain and suffering, there’s no guarantee that they’ll honor your request. If you wish to proceed, you’ll likely have to take them to court.
That’s why you should immediately consult with a Chicago personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. They’ll be able to represent your interests with the insurance company and can argue on your behalf. And if the insurance company refuses to adjust your settlement, they’ll be able to represent you in court.
Work with the Personal Injury Experts at Anesi Ozmon
If you’ve been injured in a car accident and are experiencing any kind of pain and suffering after the fact, don’t give up hope. Contact Anesi Ozmon and schedule a free consultation today. Our experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers will do everything they can to help you get the settlement you deserve.