Understanding the Physical Pain and Suffering of Car Accident Injuries
Car accident injuries can include minor wounds like cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Other injuries can be more serious, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), amputations, and spinal cord injuries.
Because Florida is a no-fault state, your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance should cover many of your initial medical expenses. To sue for pain and suffering after a car accident, you must meet the severe physical injury threshold described in Florida Statutes § 627.737. Compensation for the physical pain and suffering in a Florida personal injury lawsuit can include:
- Reduced quality of life
- Physical limitations
- Impaired mobility
- Loss of a limb
- Loss of bodily function
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Future pain and suffering, such as chronic pain or a permanent injury
On your own, it can be difficult to calculate a monetary value for your pain and suffering. A personal injury attorney can describe the methods commonly used to reach such a figure.
How a Car Accident Attorney Assess the Monetary Value of Pain and Suffering
Economic damages after a car accident are typically easy to assess since bills and estimates accompany them. Documenting the value of pain and suffering and other non-economic damages can be more challenging.
Your lawyer may use the multiplier method. The at-fault party’s insurance company may use a computer algorithm to reach a potential value. They could also opt for other methods. The best way to understand the financial compensation you are entitled to is to let a car accident attorney handle it for you.
Just as assessing pain and suffering is complicated, so is documenting it. Your lawyer will compile your medical records, written diagnosis, photos, and videos. They may also request written statements from you and others describing the accident’s physical toll.
A Car Accident Can Also Cause Mental and Emotional Distress
The Mayo Clinic cites the serious injury and life-threatening aftermath of an auto accident as a potential cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A car accident can also cause:
- Emotional pain
- Mental anguish
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sleeplessness
- Lost enjoyment of life
These issues and concerns can make riding in a car difficult or impossible. They can also affect your ability to engage in previously enjoyed activities. The mental health care and counseling you require after an accident are also compensable.
Recover Additional Damages for a Car Accident
Pain and suffering is only one aspect of your recoverable damages after a motor vehicle accident. Your automobile accident lawyer can also request fair compensation for:
- Medical bills throughout your recovery
- Treatment-related travel expenses
- Necessary assistive medical devices
- Lost wages until you can return to work
- Property damage, including repairing or replacing your vehicle
- The diminished value of your vehicle
- Wrongful death damages, if applicable
The value of these damages is readily verifiable, as they are direct financial losses. Your Fort Lauderdale accident & injury lawyer will compile the evidence that proves their value. They will also collect proof of the at-fault driver’s negligence, which is mandatory for a successful car accident claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Why You Should Let a Car Accident Lawyer Negotiate on Your Behalf
Negotiating a fair settlement means assigning a documented value to your injuries and sending a settlement demand letter to the responsible party’s insurance company. It can also mean multiple rounds of settlement offers and counteroffers.
You do not have to go through the settlement phase of your auto accident injury case alone. When a lawyer represents you, they will negotiate on your behalf. The final acceptance is yours to make. Your auto accident attorney will weigh the pros and cons of each offer and guide you toward a well-informed financial settlement.
Your Lawyer Can Navigate Recent Changes to Florida’s Statute of Limitations
Due to a recent change in Florida law, you face less time to file a lawsuit after a car accident. In general, the statute of limitations for personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits is two years, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11.
Because the deadline can toll or extend based on specific factors of your case, the best way to understand and correctly interpret the filing deadline is to let a personal injury lawyer handle your car accident lawsuit for you.
Get Your Free Initial Consultation After a Car Accident by Calling (954) 633-8270
If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a recent traffic accident, our personal injury law firm will pursue damages on your behalf. Seeking compensation for pain and suffering in Fort Lauderdale car accident cases is complex.
Contact our legal consultation team at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato for help recovering appropriate damages for pain and suffering. We can walk you through the entire legal process while you focus on healing.
