A personal injury lawsuit often includes seeking compensation not only for the cost associated with medical care and loss of income but also for what is often referred to as “pain and suffering.” The phrase probably sounds familiar, but what does it mean for your case?
Many catastrophic accidents require considerable medical care for those involved. But the medical bills are often only the tip of the iceberg. Victims of catastrophic accidents may experience severe emotional trauma that negatively affects their ongoing quality of life in ways that far exceed the medical billing for temporary care.
This is where “pain and suffering” comes into play. “Pain and suffering” may specifically refer to actual physical pain experienced as a result of an injury, but often may also refer to broader categories of human losses caused by someone else’s actions, such as:
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Physical impairment
- Loss of consortium
These human losses involve not just reimbursement for medical bills or missed paychecks, but fully compensating a victim for a decrease in their health (both physical and mental), relationships or quality of life.
It is important to find a lawyer that can accurately represent the entire account of your personal injury case, including the intangible losses experienced. When an incident results in personal injuries, you deserve to receive full compensation for the effects they have on your life.