If you suffered severe injuries in an accident that wasn’t your fault, your non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of life enjoyment, are as real as your economic damages. Because there are no receipts or invoices to prove these intangible damages, proving their extent can be challenging. But a personal injury lawyer in Cedar Rapids knows the typical approaches to quantifying such damages.
What are non-economic damages?
Non-economic damages are losses you can sustain due to an accident-related injury that do not have a specific dollar value. They cover a range of physical and emotional effects that result from an accident. You must be able to show how these issues impact your life to recover compensation for them.
Pain and suffering, in particular, don’t cover medical bills, lost wages, or property damage. Rather, they address the physical pain caused by the injury. Also, they account for the resulting mental anguish. Examples of pain and suffering include long-term impairment or disability that impacts your everyday life, expected limitations to your current and future physical disabilities, persistent pain and discomfort, complications that disrupt your daily routine, and others.
Establishing a Link Between Your Injuries and Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages can arise from different kinds of accidents or injuries. But you must examine the exact factors that contribute to them. You may be able to secure compensation for pain and suffering and other non-economic damages if they are attributed to pain that directly results from your injuries, stems from necessary medical procedures, chronic or ongoing pain due to the injuries, and mental anguish about the pain and the effect on your future.
In a personal injury case, you must establish a direct link between the injuries you sustained and the lasting physical or mental anguish. Without such a link, it can be hard to obtain compensation for pain and suffering.
How Non-Economic Damages are Calculated
While non-economic damages have no specific value, they can be quantified using the per diem method and the multiplier method. To apply the per diem method, your attorney will assign a dollar value to the pain and suffering you experience every day. Such a number must be reasonable and should correspond to your injuries’ extent.
Meanwhile, the multiplier method is applied by totaling your actual damages, such as lost income, medical expenses, and others. Then, they multiply the total by a number that ranges from 1.5 to 5. More serious injuries can result in a longer period of recovery. In this case, the multiplier tends to be higher.
To hold the negligent party liable for your injuries, let a personal injury attorney handle your case. Your attorney will help you recover maximum compensation from this party or their insurer.
