Pain and suffering is a non-economic damage award that may become part of your car accident case if you or your loved one suffered physical pain, emotional harm, psychological damages, lost quality of life, shortened lifespan, loss of consortium and/or grief because of the collision. If a jury rules in your favor during a car accident lawsuit, the jury may award pain and suffering damages through one of two main ways: the multiplier method or the per diem method.
The multiplier method is most common in cases involving long-term or permanent disabilities. A jury will multiply the plaintiff’s compensatory damage by a number that signifies the severity of the injury, typically between one and five. The per diem method is more common in short-term injury claims, where the plaintiff will most likely recover. It awards a pain and suffering amount per day for the duration of the injury or disability.