While it is certainly important to understand how a judge or jury may determine your pain and suffering damages, you should keep in mind that most personal injury cases resolve by reaching a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company. In a settlement, both parties agree on how much the case is worth. If you accept a settlement, you will receive a payment (or a set of payments) in return for releasing the at-fault party from further liability. In some cases, the insurance company may use a formula to arrive at your non-economic damages that involves multiplying your economic damages by a specific multiplier. The multiplier used will depend on the clarity of the other party’s fault, the strength of your medical evidence, the nature and severity of your injuries, and your prognosis. An experienced attorney can work to get you the highest multiplier applied to your case. In other cases, your lawyer and the insurance company may agree on a per diem calculation for pain and suffering damages. Per diem is Latin for “per day,” and a per diem arrangement simply means that the insurance company agrees to pay you a certain amount for each day you had to live with the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.