How Much Is Pain and Suffering Worth in a Car Accident?
The amount of pain and suffering damages recoverable in a car accident case varies from one claim to another. You could receive hundreds of thousands of dollars while another accident victim only receives thousands. The amount of pain and suffering damages recoverable depends on the unique circumstances of each case, such as the severity and extent of the injuries, the type of medical care needed, the impact on the victim’s daily activities, and the length of recovery time.
If you’re wondering how much pain and suffering is worth in a car accident claim, consult our experienced car accident attorneys in Pennsylvania. They will review your case, evaluate your damages, and advise you on the best way forward.
How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated?
Insurance companies and car accident attorneys employ different approaches to determine the amount of money needed to assign pain and suffering in a car accident. The most popular are the multiplier method and per diem method.
Multiplier Method
The multiplier method for calculating pain and suffering takes the sum of your economic damages and multiplies that figure by a predetermined number between 1.5 and 5.
For example, if your economic damages total $50,000 and the selected multiplier number is 3, your pain and suffering is $50,000 x 3 = $150,000.
The multiplier figure is determined by considering facts specific to your case, including the type of injuries sustained and, sometimes, each party’s share of fault. Typically, the more severe the injuries, the higher the multiplier.
Pennsylvania law allows accident victims to pursue compensation even if they were partially at fault, as long as their share of the fault doesn’t exceed the defendant’s. However, the final compensation amount is reduced in proportion to the victim’s share of fault. Insurance companies may try to reduce your multiplier based on your share of fault.
Per Diem or Daily Rate Method
Unlike the multiplier method, which depends on the value of your economic damages, the per diem approach is based on how long you’ve dealt with the pain and suffering from the accident. The insurance adjuster assigns a dollar value or a daily rate and multiplies it by the number of days you’ve suffered.
Suppose your daily rate is $200, and you’ve experienced pain and suffering for 170 days. Thus, the damages will total $200 x 170 days = $34,000.
The daily dollar value, like in the multiplier method, depends on how much the accident has affected your life and, in some cases, whether you share blame for the accident.
What Is Pain and Suffering in a Car Accident Claim?
Pain and suffering refer to the physical and emotional ways an accident has affected the victim or their loved ones in case of wrongful death.
A car accident claim often results in both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages, such as medical treatment costs and lost income, are easy to calculate because they have a dollar value. Non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, are intangible and subjective, which makes them more complex to calculate.
Pain and suffering damages are separate from economic losses like medical bills because they compensate you for the physical and emotional impacts of the accident instead of reimbursing you for a financial expense.
| Physical pain and suffering examples | Emotional pain and suffering examples |
| Headaches | Post-traumatic stress disorder |
| Paralysis | Changes in personality |
| Fractured bones | Disfigurement or scarring |
| Burn wounds | Inability to enjoy life activities like before |
| Internal organ damage | Depression and anxiety |
| Soft tissue damage | Insomnia |
Pain and suffering damages are not recoverable in all car accident cases. If you have selected limited tort coverage, you can only recover pain and suffering and other non-monetary damages in limited circumstances, such as if your injuries have resulted in “death, serious impairment of bodily function, or permanent serious disfigurement.”
Factors That May Determine the Value of Pain and Suffering in Your Claim
Because pain and suffering are subjective, the amount of compensation also depends on factors specific to your case. A qualified car accident attorney will consider all these aspects to help you seek the full compensation you deserve.
The following are some key factors that determine the value of pain and suffering damages:
- The severity of your injuries
- The value of your economic damages
- The length of your recovery time
- The types of injuries suffered
- The mental and emotional trauma caused
- The plaintiff’s age
Deadlines To Pursue a Pain and Suffering Claim
Under Pennsylvania’s statute of limitation for car accidents, you have just two years from the accident date to file suit. Failure to file before that deadline may prevent you from pursuing your compensation altogether. Thus, it’s critical to speak with our experienced attorneys as soon as possible after the accident so there’s sufficient time to investigate, gather evidence, prepare, and file your claim.
"When someone chooses Cordisco & Sale to represent them, they've made one of the best choices of their life in a terrible time. They're going to get empathy, they're gonna get communication, they're gonna get knowledge, and they're gonna get informed throughout every step of the way. What they're also gonna know and learn is what's hurting them, the impact on their life, and how every day they go through this pain and suffering that we're here fighting for them."
Find Legal Support in Recovering Pain and Suffering Damages
For over 30 years, the award-winning team of personal injury lawyers at Cordisco & Saile LLC have fought relentlessly for those injured by others’ negligence. We are passionate about helping people get their lives back on track, no matter how much effort it takes.
You only get one shot to pursue compensation for pain and suffering, so get it right from the beginning by scheduling a free consultation. Call us at 215-642-2335 or fill out our online form to get started.
