Can I Sue for Pain & Suffering in Pennsylvania?
Learn your legal options with an experienced personal injury lawyer
After a personal injury accident, your immediate worry is how you’ll be able to pay for medical bills and other expenses related to your injury. However, many people fail to recognize that you can be compensated for the physical pain and emotional distress you suffered because of your injury. In Pennsylvania, you have the legal right to claim damages for pain and suffering following an accident.
Proving pain and suffering can be challenging since these damages are inherently subjective. At Hal Waldman & Associates, our attorneys know how to handle personal injury claims in Western Pennsylvania and have decades of experience proving that our clients have endured significant pain and suffering. We will fight for the compensation you deserve for all of your costs.
What is pain and suffering?
Pain and suffering, in legal terms, refer to the physical and emotional distress that you have experienced due to an accident or injury caused by someone else's carelessness. It involves the physical pain and limitations resulting from the injury, as well as the emotional distress and psychological impact it may have on your life.
When seeking compensation for pain and suffering in a personal injury case, you are essentially asking for financial recovery to compensate you for the negative effects the injury has had on your overall well-being. This includes visible injuries and the toll it takes on your mental health.
What are non-economic damages?
There are different financial types of damages you can recover for a personal injury case. Economic damages refer to the objectively measurable losses you experience from an injury, like medical bills and lost income. Non-economic damages are losses you experience due to an injury that can't be easily measured in dollars. They include things like pain and suffering and the impact an injury has on your daily life. Other types of non-economic damages include:
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of quality of life
- Disfigurement or scarring
How to prove pain and suffering
Proving pain and suffering is an essential part of a personal injury case. Although you can’t produce an itemized bill to establish pain and suffering as you can prove medical expenses, evidence is still critical. Collecting the following types of evidence can support your claim:
- Medical records: These documents show the extent of your injuries, the treatments you've received, and the medications prescribed, giving a clear picture of the physical and emotional toll the injury caused.
- Medial expert testimony: Having medical experts testify on your behalf can provide insight from specialists into the extent of your injuries, the pain you've endured, and the potential long-term effects. Their expertise adds credibility to your claim and can help show a better understanding of the true impact of your pain and suffering.
- Photographs: Visual evidence of your injuries, the accident scene, and any visible pain or distress can provide a powerful representation of your pain and suffering.
- Pain journal: Keeping a record of your pain levels, emotional struggles, and the challenges you face due to the injuries can provide a more comprehensive understanding of your pain and suffering over time. Symptoms change, or you may forget how you felt at a certain time. Having notes of it all helps build a stronger case.
Maximizing compensation for Pittsburgh’s injured
If you experienced a personal injury accident, you deserve to be compensated for all types of damages. Insurance companies may try minimizing your compensation by not factoring in your pain and suffering. At Hal Waldman & Associates, our personal injury attorneys fight for your rights to claim compensation for your pain and suffering.
Don’t delay. Contact us now for a free consultation with one of our experienced Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers. Our team is available to hear from you, and we will always call back on the same or next day.
