Victims of Philadelphia, PA car accidents may be entitled to financial compensation for their damages and injuries.
- medical expenses,
- lost wages,
- out of pocket expenses, and
- pain and suffering.
Of these types of damages, pain and suffering damages are the hardest to prove. Unlike the other 3, pain and suffering damages cannot be proven through bills, receipts or pay stubs.
There is no set formula for calculating pain and suffering damages. However, there are factors that help determine pain and suffering of Philadelphia car accident victims. Such factors include, but not limited to:
- How do the injuries affect the victim’s job?
- How do the injuries affect the victim’s home life?
- The extent of medical treatment.
- How do the injuries affect other aspects of the victim’s daily life?
- Was the victim admitted to the hospital? If so, how long?
Further, pain and suffering damages are different for everyone. The same injury can affect 2 individuals differently. One may have more pain and suffering damages than the other.
Philadelphia Car Accident Hypothetical
Consider the following example:
A construction worker is injured in car accident at an intersection in Philadelphia. As a result of the accident, he fractures his ankle. He needs to have surgery and months of physical therapy after surgery. He suffers complications from the surgery and needs a second surgery. All of the while he cannot return to work because his job requires him to be on his feet. Because he cannot work for several months and is confined to his home, he becomes depressed and needs to be treated by a therapist for his depression.
Consider the same injury for another car accident victim who is an accountant. He needs the same medical treatment, and the surgery is successful. After months of physical therapy, his ankle reaches maximum medical improvement. Unlike the construction worker, the only time the accountant missed time from work was when he had surgery. Because his job does not require him to be on his feet, he can work from home in his bed or at his desk with his injured ankle raised.
In the above example, the construction worker’s pain and suffering damages are significantly greater than the accountant. Not only did he need surgery, he needed a second surgery. In addition, he lost more time from work and suffered from depression.
Therefore, the specifics of how a car accident victim’s daily life is affected plays a major role in determining pain and suffering.
Help After a Philadelphia Car Accident
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in Philadelphia or other parts of Pennsylvania, call Jordan Namerow, a Philadelphia personal injury accident lawyer. Mr. Namerow offers free consultations. 215.985.0777