The pain and suffering compensation you can get in Georgia covers the physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life caused by your injuries. Unlike economic losses like medical bills, pain and suffering don’t come with a receipt. This makes insurance companies more likely to downplay your suffering and minimize your compensation.
How much you can recover depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, how long your recovery takes, and the lasting impact on your daily life. Let’s take a closer look at what counts as pain and suffering, how it’s calculated, and how an Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help you get the damages you deserve after an accident.
What Counts As Pain and Suffering Compensation in Georgia?
In Georgia, pain and suffering compensation covers the physical and emotional toll of your injuries. You can receive compensation for the actual pain and discomfort of your injuries and your recovery process.
For example, ongoing aches and even the lasting effects of a serious injury can warrant this form of compensation. In addition to compensating you for your physical pain, these damages can also help you cope with anxiety, depression, sleep loss, and the mental strain of dealing with your injuries.
A personal injury lawyer can work with you to identify all the ways that the accident and your injuries have impacted your life. They’ll calculate how much you should receive for pain and suffering and fight for a fair settlement.
How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated in Georgia?
When it comes to calculating pain and suffering compensation in Georgia, there are two methods that insurers and attorneys typically use. One is the multiplier method, which takes your economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages, and multiplies them by a number based on how serious your injuries are.
The other is the per diem method, which assigns a daily dollar value to your suffering for the length of your recovery. Regardless of which method the insurance company uses for the initial settlement offer, the number isn’t set in stone. Your attorney will work hard to make sure the final value is based on the specifics of your case, such as:
- The severity of your injuries
- How long you’ve been affected
- How much your daily life has changed
Insurers will do everything they can to deny your pain and minimize your compensation. You’ll need an experienced lawyer to help you push back against lowball settlement offers and negotiate a payment that supports your recovery and helps you get back on your feet.
What Factors Affect Your Compensation?
If you are pursuing pain and suffering compensation in Georgia, you are probably wondering what laws might impact your financial recovery. Georgia’s fault rule is one of the most impactful rules in this situation. The laws apply to injury victims who were partially at-fault for the accident they were hurt in.
Under the state’s comparative negligence law, you can still recover compensation as long as you’re less than 50% at fault for the crash. However, your award will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
For example, if your claim is worth $100,000 and you’re found 20% at fault, your compensation drops by $20,000, leaving you able to recover $80,000. Insurers often take advantage of this rule by attempting to pin part of the blame on you and arguing that your settlement should be reduced. A skilled lawyer can fight back and push for a better outcome.
How a Lawyer Can Help You Get Pain and Suffering Compensation in Georgia
Proving that you deserve pain and suffering compensation in Georgia is one of the hardest parts of a claim because these losses don’t come with bills or receipts. An experienced lawyer can turn the real impact of your injuries into a clear, evidence-backed case that the insurance company can’t easily dismiss.
Here’s how a lawyer will help you get compensation for your pain and suffering:
- Document the full physical and emotional impact of your injuries
- Gather medical records and supporting evidence
- Calculate a fair value for your pain and suffering
- Counter the insurer’s attempts to minimize or undervalue your claim
- Push back when adjusters try to shift blame onto you
- Negotiate a settlement that meets your needs
- Take your case to trial, if necessary
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Trusted Georgia Attorney
At Van Sant Law, we understand what you’ve been through and are prepared to fight to recover the full pain and suffering compensation you’re owed. With decades of combined experience and hundreds of millions recovered, we know how to hold insurance companies accountable.
Founding attorney David M. Van Sant spent years defending insurance and trucking companies before fighting for the injured. He knows exactly how insurers evaluate claims and how they try to pay you losses.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and get started on your claim. We’ll meet with you to explain what pain and suffering compensation you can get in Georgia and answer any questions you have about seeking damages after an accident. Make the Right Call.
