If you or somebody you care about has sustained an injury that was caused by another person’s negligent actions, you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for your losses. There are various types of damages available in these cases, including pain and suffering. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, our personal injury attorneys in Spokane want to discuss pain and suffering damages and how they can affect your settlement.
UNDERSTANDING PAIN AND SUFFERING DAMAGES
Most people understand that they are able to recover compensation for their losses if they are injured due to another person’s negligence. When most people think of damages that are recoverable, they think of medical bills and lost income that a victim incurs due to their injuries. However, pain and suffering damages may also be available to victims of injuries.
The term “pain and suffering” is typically used to define the distress that a person endures after a personal injury occurs. This can include both physical and mental components that are tied to a person’s physical injuries.
- Physical pain and suffering refer to the pain that an injury victim experiences as a direct result of the injuries they have sustained. This includes the pain a person experiences in the immediate aftermath of the injury as well as throughout their recovery process.
- Mental pain and suffering is also related to physical injuries, and refers to any of the following an injury victim experiences due to their injuries:
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional and psychological distress
- Humiliation
- Anxiety
- Fear
- Anger
As opposed to medical bills and lost income, pain and suffering damages can be harder to quantify. These types of damages do not come with receipts or bills, but that does not mean that the pain and suffering an injury victim experiences should not be compensated.
As you might expect, those who sustain more severe injuries are typically awarded higher compensation amounts for their pain and suffering damages. There is no set formula in Washington to determine how much compensation a person will receive. A skilled Spokane personal injury lawyer will be able to paint a complete picture for a potential jury to demonstrate how a person’s injuries have affected their lives and caused significant pain and suffering.
LET US GET TO WORK ON YOUR CASE TODAY
If you or a loved one have been injured due to another person’s careless or negligent actions, contact an attorney as soon as possible. The team at Russell & Hill, PLLC is going to investigate your claim to secure any compensation you are entitled to. This includes the pain and suffering damages that we discussed above as well as the following:
- Coverage of medical expenses
- Recovery of lost wages if you are unable to work
- Coverage of physical therapy
- Possible punitive damages against the negligent party
If you need a personal injury attorney in Spokane, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 800-529-0842.