When you suffer an injury due to the negligence of someone else, whether it’s a car accident, slip and fall accident, medical malpractice, or other types of injury, you are entitled to seek compensation for your injuries and property damage (if applicable). That means that if the responsible party is found to be liable for your damages, you can collect for the medical expenses you incurred, your present and future lost wages, your pain, and suffering, and sometimes punitive damages. In this article, we will focus on what pain and suffering damages are and how they are determined in personal injury cases.
Pain and suffering damages are divided into two categories – physical and mental.
The physical pain and suffering that an individual suffers are based on the actual pain that is experienced due to the accident. It includes the pain and discomfort of the plaintiff that has resulted since the accident and injury have occurred, as well as physical pain that is anticipated in the future.
The mental pain and suffering that are experienced due to the negligence of the defendant can include several things such as mental anguish, emotional distress, anger, fear, insomnia, anxiety, shock, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment in activities previously enjoyed. The mental and emotional aspects of a personal injury can also involve mental health disorders like generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Generally, the mental pain and suffering that a plaintiff experiences can include any negative psychological or emotional issue that he or undergoes due to the injuries sustained in the accident or as a result of medical malpractice.
Mental pain and suffering, like physical pain and suffering, includes any negative effects since the injury as well as what is anticipated in the future.
In Florida, juries are not provided with many guidelines for determining the value of the injured party’s pain and suffering by the court. There is not a list of amounts for specific types of pain and suffering damages that they can refer to. Rather, the judge will typically issue instructions to juries to use their good sense, experience, and backgrounds as they are deciding on a fair and reasonable financial award for the plaintiff’s pain and suffering.
That said, there are some common factors that can influence the jury’s decision on the value of the plaintiff’s pain and suffering. Some of these factors include:
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury that was caused by another person’s negligence in Florida, you may be entitled to damages for your injuries – including pain and suffering. Because of the complexities of personal injury cases, it’s important that you seek legal representation from an experienced and successful personal injury attorney to handle your case.
Contact Boca Raton personal injury lawyer Joe Osborne at (561) 296-2600 or complete the online contact form to discuss your case and your best legal options to protect your rights and obtain compensation for your injuries.
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“Attorneys Greg Francis and Ryan Fletcher at Osborne & Francis Law Firm represented me in my personal injury case.The defendant drew a line in the sand and was adamant on a settlement amount I was almost willing to accept. After the dust settled and the smoke cleared, we settled for 3 times that amount!!! When they say ‘Real Tough Lawyers,’ they mean it.”
“I am so thankful for EVERYONE, the entire staff at Osborne & Francis Law, for mentoring me through the mediation process with my hip replacement failures. I didn't realize how MUCH pressure they relieved me of by helping me deal with the reality of this traumatic time in my life, as it was OVER so quickly with a positive result. My family is grateful to have their mom HAPPY & FOCUSED on the future, rather than worrying over what happened in the past! FAST FORWARD, we are LIVING LIFE to the fullest once again!”
“I couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer/ firm — everything was done professionally exactly how I wanted. Due to COVID my personal attorney Mr. Garcia was still able to make things work in a timely manner and he never made me feel like he wasn’t working. Overall I’m happy with how my case turned out and I would recommend him and this law firm to anyone. 100% satisfied.”
Dennis and the other Osborne & Francis staff were amazing! Our case was HUGE and required tender loving care. Everyone on our case did their part by putting all the puzzle pieces together. We were given step by step updates and put at ease when our nerves got the best of us. For every inquiry we made we received a timely response...You are appreciated!
Quick and fair resolution to a unique case. On advice of my own attorney, I engaged Joseph Osborne of Osborne & Francis of Boca Raton, FL. Mr. Osborne had considerable experience in cases such as mine and the results showed that. Mr. Osborne and his staff were very helpful, kept me up to date, and listened to my input. The settlement was very fair as far as I am concerned.
"Best personal injury attorney around, I could not be happier! I was seriously injured in a car accident and Osborne and Francis helped me through the entire process. I was blown away by how knowledgeable the staff and attorneys are at this incredible law firm. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to friends and family!"
Hiring a lawyer is the first step towards recovering a better quality of life. At Osborne & Francis, we devote our undivided attention to each client, and all communications are held in the strictest privacy. Contact us by filling out the form or calling us directly at (561) 621-1385.
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