How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated in Illinois?

 Posted on April 25, 2024 in Personal Injury

When someone is hurt due to someone else’s actions, they can generally find legal justification to seek compensation for the associated costs from the person who caused the injury. Typical categories of damages include medical bills, income loss, and something known as “pain and suffering.” While medical bills and income loss are typically objective and calculated based on the bottom line of a medical bill or a missed salary, pain and suffering are more subjective. A knowledgeable Springfield, IL personal injury attorney can answer your questions about how pain and suffering might be calculated in your case.

What Does “Pain and Suffering” Cover?

Pain and suffering is a category that covers many aspects of the consequences of an injury. A qualified personal injury lawyer should be able to advocate for your rights and demonstrate that you are entitled to compensation for the mah parts of your life that have been affected by the incident in question. These include:

• Physical pain: Pain can be from the initial injury, any resulting procedures and operations, medication and other medical treatments, and hospital stays. Compensation depends on the severity of pain, which is generally measured on a scale of 1-10, as well as the duration of the pain and how it impacts your functioning.
• Emotional pain: Mental suffering can manifest as depression, sadness, fear, anger, anxiety, and PTSD. It might affect your ability to function and do even simple tasks. A professional therapist treating you can verify for the court that you truly are suffering emotionally. 
• Disfigurement: Some injuries can cause permanent disfigurement, scarring, or some other change to your appearance. 
• Decreased quality of life: Your injuries might make you unable to participate in the kinds of activities you used to before the accident. This can include dancing, sports, and other hobbies as well as social events.

Your injury can also impact any current or future relationships if some important bodily functions are impaired, your emotional distress has negatively impacted your personality, or disfigurement renders potential relationships less likely. This should also be included in the calculation of your damages.

• Future pain and suffering: If a full recovery is not possible, your injuries can cause long-lasting pain with suffering lasting into the future. This should be taken into consideration when your pain and suffering are calculated.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Bloomington, IL Pain and Suffering Attorney

If you were injured because of something another person did, you may be entitled to significant compensation for the pain and suffering the injuries have caused. A compassionate Peoria, IL personal injury lawyer can work on your case to get you the compensation you deserve. Call Kanoski Bresney at 888-826-8682 to schedule a free consultation.