How Can Pain and Suffering Impact the Outcome of My Personal Injury Case?

The Law Offices of Morton J. Shuman, P.C. • April 22, 2021

Compensation paid on a personal injury claim generally includes payment for actual medical bills and lost wages, as well as a certain amount for “pain and suffering.” This category not only includes the physical pain and discomfort that the claimant has currently endured, but also the damaging effects that the injured party is likely to suffer in the future as a consequence of the defendant’s negligence. In addition, the claimant may seek compensation for the mental pain and suffering (including anger, depression, loss of appetite, lack of energy, sexual dysfunction, mood swings, and/or sleep disturbances) that has been experienced as a result of the injury, including the mental pain and suffering that is likely to be endured into the future.


Those considering filing a civil lawsuit in hopes of holding someone liable for the loss or harm inflicted upon them should discuss the issue with an attorney as soon as they are able. All states have “statutes of limitations” that impose a time limit within which affected parties must take action to enforce their rights or seek redress after damage or injury. These limitation periods, which vary in accordance with the type of case, are imposed to encourage possible legal action before facts fade from memory, people move on, and evidence gets lost. With this in mind, individuals injured by others have every reason to seek an attorney’s counsel before the statute of limitations on their case runs out.

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