In cases with serious injuries, pain and suffering is one of many types of damages you could recover from the liable party. You are entitled to seek two kinds of losses in a personal injury case; economic and non-economic. Economic damages cover quantifiable losses, such as medical bills and property damages.
Meanwhile, non-economic damages cover losses that are intangible and, therefore, more difficult to quantify. These damages focus more on the mental and personal effects the accident and injuries have on you, including the pain and suffering you experience. A Fort Lauderdale pain and suffering lawyer from Dolman Law Group can help you identify and fight for these damages in your case.
What Is Pain and Suffering
In legal terms, “pain and suffering” refers to an accident's physical, emotional, and mental effects, including:
- Pain from accident injuries
- Physical discomfort from medical treatments after the accident
- Anxiety, sleeplessness, mental anguish, and other psychological effects of an accident and associated injuries
Two indicators of the amount of pain and suffering you could recover are injury severity and the nature of your treatment. For example, injuries that lead to high medical bills often involve significant pain and suffering damages.
Although it might seem clear-cut, calculating pain and suffering damages isn't an easy process because they don't have their own financial value. To address this, a lawyer from our firm can compile evidence showing the degree of injuries you have, give them a monetary value, and use it as a pain and suffering equivalent in your Fort Lauderdale case.
Proving Pain and Suffering Damages
It is hard to prove something you can't see, as is the case with pain and suffering. However, our personal injury attorneys can use other evidence to “show” your pain and suffering.
One of the pieces of evidence we can use is your medical records. This is why it is always important to go to the hospital after an accident for your injuries, no matter how small. Your medical records show the nature of your injuries, their extent, and the treatment needed. Your lawyer can use this to prove your injuries and that you are experiencing pain and suffering to some degree.
Something else a lawyer can use to prove pain and suffering is by getting expert witness statements. They can get a doctor or other medical experts to establish the extent of your injuries and their physical impacts, such as pain and limited movement. A therapist or psychologist can also show that you suffered significant emotional or psychological harm.
Length of Recovery
Something else your lawyer can use to show pain and suffering is how long your recovery will take. The longer the recovery period, the greater your pain and suffering may be.
You can ask your doctors to indicate how long your treatments will likely last and the extent you are likely to recover. In some cases, victims might not recover completely and might need treatment throughout their lives—these cases can result in the most robust pain and suffering awards.
Your lawyer will include all this in your personal injury claim to support your right to pain and suffering damages.
How You Can Document Your Experience
Recording your experience is another way to document the intensity of your injuries. One of the ways you can do this is by writing down all the symptoms you experience.
You should also write down if the pain or discomfort interferes with your normal routine. For example, document the activities you can no longer do or have difficulty performing. Also, take pictures of any visible wounds, discolorations, or swelling as further documentation of your recovery.
How a Fort Lauderdale Pain and Suffering Lawyer Can Help
When you hire Dolman Law Group, we won't let you carry the burden of seeking personal injury compensation all by yourself. We take care of the legal side of your pain and suffering claim by:
- Compiling all the documentation from the police, hospital, and other relevant sources
- Using this documentation to prove the extent of your injuries and the pain level you endure
- Collecting evidence to identify the liable party and prove their negligence
- Calculating the amount of damages to pursue, including assigning value to your pain and suffering damages
- Building a case to establish your right to financial recovery
- Negotiating for a fair settlement
- Filing your lawsuit by the deadline under Florida Statutes § 95.11
- Representing you in court
Our attorneys will also offer legal guidance and keep you updated every step of the way. You will have to make important decisions regarding your case, and we want to help you make these decisions confidently.
Hear From Our Satisfied Clients
- “They were very hands on with us, we were able to call or text about any questions we had and we always got a timely response. I would recommend these guys to anyone.” — Anj Rolle
- “I was hit by another car when turning onto Ft. Laud blvd a few months back. Car was wrecked, back felt terrible, was in a lot of pain. Contacted this personal injury law firm in search of a car accident lawyer. I found Becky Dolman who did a wonderful job for me and getting me payment for my damages.” — Jason Snelson
- “I have dealt with a number of injury lawyers in the past and none of them compare to Sibley Dolman Gipe. Best accident attorneys in the business. Thanks for all your help guys!” — Harley James
Work With a Dolman Law Group Pain and Suffering Lawyer
Our lawyers are ready to step in and advocate for your rights in Fort Lauderdale, fighting for the best possible outcome in your pain and suffering case. We are even ready to represent you before a court if needed.
You are our priority from the minute we get your case until we get you the compensation you deserve, and even after. Call us today to start working with our attorneys on your case.
Fort Lauderdale Office
150 E Davie Blvd Suite 201-2
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Phone: (754) 208-1130