When you sustain a serious injury in an accident, you may be entitled to damages for the actual costs of related expenses including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Home modifications
- Adaptive technology
Known as “special damages,” these will have a provable economic value and may include anything related to your injury that will require out-of-pocket payments.
General damages are often more difficult to prove. These include things that are not quantifiable such as:
- Physical pain
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Anger
Residual emotional duress can have far-reaching consequences and may be exacerbated by physical limitations and chronic pain. If you are dealing with the physical or emotional consequences of an accident in addition to economic damages, you may have a case for pain and suffering. The best way to learn for sure is through a free, one-on-one consultation with one of our award-winning personal injury lawyers.
Calculating Pain and Suffering
Insurance adjusters typically calculate pain and suffering on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the lowest level of pain and 5 the highest. Using this number as a multiplier, adjustors will typically consider factors such as:
- The seriousness of the injury
- Future prognosis
- Liability of the insured
In addition, adjusters will consider previous jury verdicts, using those as a gauge for the amount of compensation victims have been awarded for similar injuries.
Using these numbers, adjusters often make a low-ball offer. Insurance companies have not experienced record-breaking profits in recent years by dealing fairly with victims of injury. Insurance companies are infamous for doing everything possible to minimize or completely deny a claim – particularly one based on general damages like pain and suffering. This is where having an attorney can be useful.
The personal injury lawyers at Kirtland & Packard don’t need to study jury verdicts to understand how much an injury is worth. We have decades of experience litigating and negotiating personal injury cases and a long and proud history of helping victims of injury get the full compensation they are due. Before you accept an offer from insurance, schedule a free consultation at our Redondo Beach office to learn what your claim is actually worth.
Contact Kirtland & Packard
Kirtland & Packard is an award-winning law firm with several notable, respected, and trusted personal injury attorneys. Fair, honest, and tireless, our attorneys are not afraid to fight for our clients and can take your claim as far as needed to help you secure the best settlement or verdict possible. Call us today at (310) 536-1000 to schedule a free consultation and learn more.
Located in Redondo Beach, Kirtland & Packard welcomes clients from all surrounding South Bay areas.