After a car accident, there are numerous damages to calculate, such as the costs of your medical bills, the costs to repair your car, and the costs of any property damage that occurred. However, other types of damages can be more challenging to calculate, such as pain and suffering.
Here is some information about how insurance adjustors value injury claims and how pain and suffering is determined in a car accident case.
How Insurance Companies Evaluate Pain and Suffering
Every insurance adjuster and company evaluates pain and suffering a bit differently, but a couple common methods are used. One way is to multiply the total cost of medical bills and lost wages by a number between one and five, depending on how severe the injury was. If your total amount of actual damages was $10,000 and the injury was moderately severe, you may be looking at $30,000 in pain and suffering damages.
Meanwhile, other insurance companies may assign a specific dollar amount to every day between the accident date and the patient’s recovery. Insurance companies will also review medical records to look for physician notes about pain and suffering and take into account how long the injured party sought medical treatment.
Evidence for Pain and Suffering Damages
Pain and suffering can be difficult to prove, which is why you need an experienced auto accident attorney on your side. Remember that these are real damages that are recoverable. Evidence that insurance companies review to make this determination include personal journals about pain, photographs, physician notes, and written documentation from friends and family members about how the person’s quality of life has been impacted.
Since pain and suffering extends to mental and emotional damage, documentation from a counselor, psychiatrist, or psychologist is also helpful. These are all reasons to write down as much as possible day-to-day about how you are feeling after an accident and get written documentation from everyone around you who has personal knowledge about your condition. Every little bit helps when you are involved in an auto accident case and pursuing pain and suffering damages.
When Should You Go to a Doctor After an Accident?
Many people have this question, and the answer is always “as soon as you possibly can.” If you feel any form of pain or discomfort at all, definitely see a doctor. Even if you feel totally fine after being hit, it is still a good idea to see a doctor because you may still be in shock and not fully processing how your body is feeling yet.
Some auto accident injuries are delayed and don’t start making you feel poorly until days or weeks later. However, if you seek treatment right away, you will have created an ongoing paper trail for your developing injuries and have a better chance at proving your legal case.
Get Help with Your Car Accident Case
At the Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum, we understand how traumatic auto accidents in Brooklyn can be. Whether your injuries are severe, minor, or somewhere in between, your case may be worth pursuing to cover your losses from medical bills, lost wages, repairs, and pain and suffering.
Call us today at 718-237-5586 for assistance with your car accident case, or fill out our online form to tell us more about your accident.
