There are two basic methods for calculating pain and suffering damage:
Multiplier method: The court will multiply the total amount of your economic damages (medical bills, car damage) by a number between 1.5 and 5. This number represents the severity of your injuries, from minor to extreme.
Per diem method: Your pain and suffering damages are calculated on a “per day” basis between the date of your injury and the date when your doctor releases you from treatment. So if the court assigns you a per diem amount of $110 per day and it takes you 100 days to recover from your injuries, you’ll get $11,000 for pain and damages.