When Can Pain and Suffering Damages Be Awarded After a Car Crash?

If you are injured in a car accident, you may be left with high medical expenses related to emergency treatment, surgeries, medication, and rehabilitation, among other things. You may also be forced to miss significant work time, affecting your ability to earn an income. A personal injury claim can help you pursue compensation for these economic damages, but it is also important to note that you may be entitled to non-economic damages if you are experiencing ongoing pain and suffering. It may be more challenging to make the case for these damages, but with your attorney’s help, you can fight for compensation that can help to ease your burden.

Pain and Suffering and Other Non-Economic Damages

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be unable to return to your previous quality of life after your accident, even after receiving the best medical treatment available. In a civil lawsuit, non-economic damages are meant to provide compensation for lasting physical and mental hardship.

You may have a case for non-economic damages if you are suffering from:

• Physical pain: Pain that interferes with your daily life can justify non-economic damages in addition to economic damages for the cost of any treatment you receive for it.
• Mental anguish: Car accidents and resulting injuries often lead to depression, anxiety, and emotional pain in addition to the physical effects.
• Scarring or disfigurement: You may pursue additional damages if an accident results in paralysis or the loss of a limb or an organ that permanently affects your bodily functions, or if you are left with visible scarring that affects your appearance.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: The physical and mental effects of your accident may prevent you from participating in the kinds of activities you used to enjoy, or being able to take pleasure in them the way that you used to.
• Loss of companionship: Your injuries may also affect your ability to maintain personal relationships with your friends, family members, and romantic partners.

Making the Case for Pain and Suffering Damages

Your attorney can help you build a strong argument for non-economic damages to present in either settlement negotiations or a trial, depending on what the situation calls for. Often, this means that you will not only need evidence of another party’s negligence in causing your damages, but also testimony from yourself, the people close to you, and medical professionals, to demonstrate the full impact of the injuries on your life. 

Contact a Lombard Personal Injury Attorney

The attorneys at Mevorah Law Offices LLC are committed to helping you achieve full compensation for your car accident injuries, including for both economic and non-economic damages. Contact us today at 630-755-6426 for a free initial consultation with a compassionate DuPage County personal injury lawyer.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2017&ChapterID=56&SeqStart=17800000&SeqEnd=20000000