Yes, “pain and suffering” in a personal injury lawsuit does broadly cover damages such as emotional distress. In some instances, however, “emotional distress” may be listed as a separate claim. The legal differences between “emotional distress” and “pain and suffering” may be subtle, but could impact how much compensation you are able to receive from your injury claim. If you suffer from anxiety, depression, and/or PTSD following a car accident, you may be eligible to pursue damages for emotional distress, in addition to physical injury and financial losses.