If you were hurt in an accident, you’re probably curious about the damages you might receive from a successful personal injury claim. If you require a considerable amount of medical attention and experience significant pain and discomfort from your injuries, you also might ask yourself if compensation for pain and suffering is separate from medical bills.
According to the Indiana personal injury lawyers at Vaughan & Vaughan, pain and suffering is separate from medical bills. Both are different types of damages you can receive after an accident caused by another person. A lawyer from our firm can explain the difference between these damages and fight for the compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Understanding the Difference Between Medical Bills and Pain and Suffering
To understand how pain and suffering is different from medical bills, you’ll want to learn more about both types of compensatory damages. Once you’ve done so, you’ll know much more about your personal injury case and can make smart decisions throughout the claims process.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering accounts for the struggles you face due to your injuries. Compensation for pain and suffering can help you cope with the following challenges:
- Decreased quality of life caused by chronic pain, lack of mobility, and other impacts of your injuries
- Mental health issues that have resulted from the pain and discomfort you’ve been burdened with
- Lack of independence due to reduced mobility
Medical Bills
Compensation for medical bills typically covers economic losses exclusively. Such economic losses are strictly related to your medical treatment and physical recovery after an accident. If your claim is successful, you may receive compensation for the following forms of medical treatment:
- Doctor’s appointments
- Hospital visits
- Ambulance transportation
- Prescription medications
- Assistive devices
- Rehabilitative therapy
- Future medical care
How Much You Can Receive for Pain and Suffering in Indiana
Physical pain from a car accident, truck collision, or another type of personal injury incident can impact almost every aspect of your life. Fortunately, a winning insurance claim or civil suit can give you the money you need to cope with your physical suffering and discomfort.
While there’s no set amount of compensation you can expect to receive from pain and suffering damages, a lawyer can review the details of your situation and calculate how much you should be awarded. They’ll ask you about the pain you’ve experienced, how it has impacted your daily life, and if your mental health has been impacted by it.
They’ll use the answers you provide, other details from your accident, and special calculations to determine how much compensation you should receive for the physical pain you’ve been dealing with.
Cap on Pain and Suffering Damages
Whether you’re seeking compensation for medical bills or pain and suffering, it’s important to know how much claimants in your position are legally permitted to receive from a claim. To find out what the maximum amount you’re able to recover is, you’ll want to research what the cap is on pain and suffering damages.
When it comes to personal injury claims, Indiana does not have a cap. However, if you’re seeking compensation from the state for pain, you’ll be able to receive as much as $700,000. If you’re filing a medical malpractice claim, the cap on pain and suffering will be $1.25 million.
How an Attorney Can Help You Get Compensation for Pain and Suffering
If you’re dealing with a painful injury, you probably don’t have time to file an insurance claim or seek damages in court. Instead, your time would be better spent attending medical appointments and getting the rest you need to recover from your injuries.
Fortunately, a personal injury attorney from Indiana can take the steps required to recover compensation for your injuries, bills, and losses. They’ll handle the entirety of your case so you have the time you need to focus on what’s most important. Here’s what they’ll do to ensure you get compensation to make up for your pain and suffering and medical bills:
- Collect evidence of your accident
- Analyze evidence and use it to build a strong personal injury case
- File a claim with the insurance company
- Negotiate with insurers to reach a fair settlement agreement
- Take your case to trial if the insurance company won’t pay
- Fight for your pain and suffering damages and other forms of compensation
- Meet relevant filing deadlines and abide by other state laws
If your attorney is able to complete the steps mentioned above, it’s highly likely that you’ll receive a fair payment for your losses. To get the representation you need to file a successful claim, get in touch with an attorney you can trust today.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Skilled Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by another person, you’ll want to get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible. Doing so can ensure that deadlines are met and that evidence from your accident doesn’t go missing. Contact us today to give yourself the best chance of making a full physical and financial recovery from your accident.
Vaughan & Vaughan has served injured individuals like yourself for over 100 years. We have the legal knowledge required to explain why pain and suffering is separate from medical bills. We also have the experience to file a strong claim on your behalf and fight for the damages you need to get back on your feet after a bad accident.
