Jan 19, 2023 Being involved in a motorcycle accident can be a traumatic experience, both physically and emotionally. Beyond the physical challenges that individuals may face after an accident, such as broken bones or head injuries, there are also psychological challenges that can have lasting effects on victims. Keep reading to learn about the psychological impact of motorcycle accidents and how pain and suffering damages are calculated when pursuing a lawsuit.
People who have been involved in motorcycle accidents often experience sudden shock followed by intense feelings of fear and anxiety. This is especially true if the accident results in severe injury or the death of a loved one. Traumatic events such as these can leave victims feeling overwhelmed with emotion and unable to process their thoughts or emotions properly.
In some cases, victims may suffer from long-term psychological issues due to a motorcycle accident. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one condition that can arise following a traumatic event like an accident. PTSD symptoms can include flashbacks or nightmares about the event; avoidance behaviors; difficulty sleeping; irritability; and even suicidal thoughts in severe cases.
Depression is another potential consequence of being involved in an accident since it can lead to feelings of isolation and low self-esteem, making it difficult for victims to cope with their situation.
Calculating damages for economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages, is fairly straightforward. It is essential to understand how pain and suffering damages are calculated as well. To calculate this type of compensation, there are two common methods used.
The multiplier method is a popular way of calculating pain and suffering damages. This calculation takes your economic damages, such as medical bills and lost wages, into account and then multiplies them by a number between 1.5 to 5, depending on the severity of the injury or illness. The more severe the injury or illness, the higher the multiplier number will be.
For example, if your medical bills totaled $10,000 for an injury caused by someone else’s negligence, you might use a multiplier of 3x for moderate injuries, resulting in $30,000 for pain and suffering (in addition to reimbursement for your medical bills).
The per diem method is another common way to calculate pain and suffering damages. Under this approach, plaintiffs are awarded an amount that reflects the daily impact their condition has had on their life; this could include income lost due to missed workdays as well as other lifestyle changes necessitated by their injury or illness.
For instance, if it took 100 days for an individual to recover from an injury sustained due to someone else’s negligence, they might receive $200 per day until they reached full recovery — resulting in total compensation of approximately $20,000 for those 100 days of healing time.
When it comes down to it, calculating pain and suffering damages is an inexact science with no set formula for determining what is fair compensation for any given situation. It is always wise to consult with a legal professional who can assess your case before deciding on any legal action. Contact The Law Offices of David A. Solomon for help pursuing compensation after a motorcycle accident.
We understand the stress and uncertainty you may be feeling in this moment, and we want you to know that you're not alone. Our law firm has helped hundreds of people in cases ranging from straightforward to extremely complex circumstances, and we are confident in our abilities to help you.