Can I Get Compensation for Pain and Suffering in South Carolina?
Bodily injuries can leave victims in serious pain.
Fortunately, South Carolina law lets you receive compensation for this pain and suffering, which can be in addition to your economic losses like medical bills and lost wages.
If you’ve been in a car or other accident, you need a lawyer who knows how to obtain the most pain and suffering compensation. Because this is a complex area of law, reach out to a seasoned attorney at Peace Law Firm today.
What Are Pain and Suffering Damages?
“Pain and suffering” is a legal term used to describe the intangible losses people suffer when they are injured in an accident. If you break your leg, you will incur medical expenses for treatment, which has a precise dollar amount. But this amount of money doesn’t really compensate you for the pain and inconvenience you have experienced.
For example, with a broken leg, you might not be able to enjoy walks in the evening with your wife. You might also be in so much pain you don’t sleep well or have trouble doing crossword puzzles or reading novels. Most people understand that these types of disruptions deserve some form of compensation.
Although you might want your old body back, the most a court can do is award you a sum of money for your pain and suffering. This sum of money goes by the legal name “damages.”
How Much Pain and Suffering Compensation Can You Receive?
It is harder to translate pain and suffering into monetary terms than it is to calculate economic losses. With medical care, you can add up all your medical bills along with your prescription drug receipts. That gives you a good, specific number to request for compensation.
But pain and suffering are more subjective. Just how much money can truly compensate you for no longer being able to lift your grandchild or sleep soundly at night? If your case goes to trial, jurors will have to rely on their experience to come up with a number.
Many attorneys suggest using a multiplier of your economic damages. So if your medical care and lost wages total $20,000, you might receive 1-5 times that amount for pain and suffering, depending on the seriousness of your injuries. More serious and/or permanent injuries warrant more in pain and suffering than temporary or mild ones.
Is There a Limit to How Much Pain and Suffering Compensation You Can Receive?
In some situations. For example, South Carolina has passed a law limiting non-economic damages in malpractice claims. Section 15-32-220 has limited the amount to $350,000 per defendant, up to $1.05 overall per incident.
If you end up suing the government, then your pain and suffering and other noneconomic damages are limited to $300,000.
Were You Injured in an Accident? We Can Help
Personal injury lawsuits help injured victims get the money they need to cover medical care and lost wages. These lawsuits also can compensate you for your pain and suffering and other non-economic losses like emotional distress and inconvenience.
Contact Peace Law Firm today. Our experienced lawyer will meet with you for a free initial consultation.
Rate this Post
Loading...