If you’re injured in an auto accident in California that was caused by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and other losses. You may also be entitled to pain and suffering damages. However, these non-economic damages can be difficult to quantify and prove. At the Ibrahim Law Firm, our car accident lawyers can help assess your losses and accurately calculate your pain and suffering damages to ensure you recover the fair compensation you deserve.
What Are Car Accident Pain and Suffering Damages?
If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, you may be awarded compensation for economic damages, such as:
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Past and future medical costs
You may also be entitled to non-economic damages, which don’t have a clear-cut monetary value. This includes pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress.
Economic damages can be easily calculated based on your expenses after an accident. Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, are calculated in different ways. There are two methods commonly used to calculate pain and suffering damages:
The Multiplier Method
The multiplier method is used to determine what an accident victim is entitled to for pain and suffering damages. To use this method, an attorney will calculate the economic losses and choose a multiplier between 1-5 to represent a client’s pain and suffering. They will then multiply their client’s total economic losses by the chosen multiplier. For example, if an accident victim incurred a total of $5,000 in damages, they will be assigned a multiplier of three for their pain and suffering. They will then be awarded $15,000 for pain and suffering damages.
The Per Diem Method
When using the per diem method to calculate pain and suffering damages, an attorney will focus on the amount of time it took for an accident victim to recover from the injuries they sustained in the accident. This method sets a monetary value for each day of the accident victim’s recovery, then multiplies this number by the days it takes the accident victim to recover.
Should I Hire a Car Crash Lawyer After An Accident?
If you were injured in an auto accident and sustained injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. While you can handle your case alone, without the help of a car accident lawyer, you may end up leaving money on the table if you do not know the true value of your claim or how to accurately calculate damages. Additionally, it can be very difficult to prove your demand for pain and suffering damages.
At the Ibrahim Law Firm, our car accident lawyers can investigate your accident, gather evidence, and calculate your pain and suffering damages to ensure you pursue every penny of compensation you’re entitled to. In most cases, the per diem method or the multiplier method will be used. At the Ibrahim Law Firm, our legal team will take the necessary steps to fight for the fair compensation you deserve for both your economic and non-economic losses.
Contact Us Today
The aftermath of a car crash can be very overwhelming, especially if you suffered injuries, are out of work, and are struggling to make ends meet. You don’t have to go through this challenging time alone. If you were injured in an auto accident in California that was caused by a negligent driver, you must take legal action as soon as possible. At the Ibrahim Law Firm, our experienced car accident attorneys can meet with you to discuss your case and go over your legal options and rights. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation to learn more.
