If you suffer serious injuries in an accident as a result of the negligent or wrongful actions of another person or entity, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Damages can be divided into two main categories: your (economic) special damages and your (non-economic) general damages. Your economic damages are relatively simple to calculate, while general damages are more nebulous and sometimes include items for which it’s difficult to determine a dollar value, such as pain and suffering losses. At the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave, our experienced lawyers work hard to help clients recover all of the compensation to which they are entitled, including damages for pain and suffering.
Understanding Pain and Suffering Damages
Pain and suffering losses refer to the physical and mental pain that you have experienced as a result of your accident and injuries.
Physical pain includes the suffering that your injuries have caused you from the time of the accident to the present. It also includes the adverse effects that your injuries are likely to continue to cause you in the future.
Mental or emotional pain can include several types of suffering, including the following:
- Loss of your ability to enjoy your life
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Humiliation caused by shame over your injuries, such as burn scars and other obvious injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety
- Depression
Serious injuries from an accident can negatively impact the quality of your life, which is why this category of damages is recognized under Missouri law.
How Are Pain and Suffering Damages Calculated?
Determining how much your pain and suffering damages are worth can be complicated since they are subjective and not easily quantifiable. They vary on a case-by-case basis. While this can be unnerving, rest assured that our experienced attorneys will work to recover the maximum compensation available to you. In addition, we can help you understand how to document any types of pain and suffering you experience so that you can present strong evidence of the basis for your claim. The best way to prove pain and suffering damages is to be diligent in the pursuit of your medical care and obtain full and complete medical care for your injuries. Evidence gained through medical care and expert testimony is imperative in bringing to light information about future pain and suffering losses.
Why Should Injured Victims Be Able to Recover These Types of Damages?
In vehicle collisions, victims may suffer damages that greatly exceed the value of their economic losses. Because they were seriously injured due to the conduct of other people or entities, these victims should be entitled to recover compensation for all resulting losses, including non-economic damages. After all, the goal of compensation in a personal injury claim is to make the person whole again. This means that the victim should receive compensation that puts him or her in a similar position to where he or she was before the accident occurred.
If you’re skeptical that pain and suffering damages are worthwhile, imagine yourself in the shoes of the victim of a car collision. You didn’t cause the crash; you were driving safely and responsibly when suddenly, your life changed forever. The pain and suffering you experienced have affected many different aspects of your life. For example, perhaps they’ve caused you anxiety, made you fearful of driving, and affected your work life and your free time. As the victim of a vehicle collision, you deserve to be made whole again.
Get Help from the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave
If you have been injured in an accident because of someone else’s reckless behavior or negligent conduct, you may be entitled to compensation. However, if you try to recover compensation on your own, you might not receive the full value of your losses, including your non-economic damages. At the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave, our attorneys advocate for our clients with insurance companies to try to secure the maximum amounts to which they are entitled. To learn more about your potential claim and its value, schedule a free consultation with the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave today by calling 417-322-2222 or contacting us online.