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September 8, 2011

Attaching a monetary value to pain and suffering

Filed under: Accident Lawyer — admin @ 11:34 pm

Reports are often publicized of immense awards being given by insurance companies for people who have suffered in accidents not their own fault. Only in very rare cases is it true that very large awards are allocated. These are only usually for very severe injuries that have completely and adversely affected the victim’s lifestyle.

If one looks at the stories closely one sees awards such as $21m for paraplegia. $15.6 awarded to a bus victim with severe brain damage and paralysis. Amputations sometimes attract large awards as well as any permanent disability or mutilation where a person’s ability to earn a living has been affected.

In all these cases it is noticeable that the amount of the settlement seems very large but the victim is almost always in a position where they are unable to enjoy the lifestyle that money would bring others who are whole in body. Do not envy them these awards as they are likely to be spending most of it on medical and care bills and their lives have been torn apart.

Personal injury lawyers have been poorly portrayed as ambulance chasers. This is in fact largely a fabrication as the professional Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles is a hard working and sympathetic professional whose job it is to represent their client’s interest against large insurance companies who do not wish to pay anything and are looking for any and every excuse to rebut or diminish their liability.

If an individual who has unfortunately been the victim of a car crash and tries to claim on from the other party or their insurance company they may experience all sorts of prevarication and bureaucratic delays. If they decide to appoint a Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney to look after their interests, the delaying tactics and spurious excuses for nonpayment should be dramatically reduced. It is at and just after the accident that the greatest need for cash occurs, not after months, when the hospital has had to withdraw treatment as the medical insurance has run out for example. A personal hurt attorney in Los Angeles is experienced at dealing with insurance companies and knows exactly how to cut through the red tape. It will not necessarily happen immediately, but they will do their best to get a satisfactory settlement for the client, and to get it so the medical bills and loss of earning are seen to.

As for pain and suffering awards; these are far more modest. It is hard to put a monetary figure to discomfort suffered by an individual. And it is rare for the amount awarded to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. More likely it will be in the hundreds of dollars. The sufferer may well feel that that is totally inadequate.

Be that as it may that is the way the courts see it. If you have suffered a bit of discomfort they are sorry and may tell the insurance company to pay you a $1,000 or 2 but unless you are really bad it is unlikely to be much more. And you should thank your lucky stars for that.

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