Pain and Suffering: Why Use a Lawyer
Pain and suffering is very real. After an accident, you probably understand this better than anyone else does. Of course, after you suffer injuries, you may be wondering: Do I need a lawyer for pain and suffering? If you want a chance at winning your case, there are a few reasons why you might want a lawyer.
Sufficient Evidence
To prove pain and suffering, you are going to need a lot of evidence to support your claim. While you might have these documents, a lawyer is who is going to help you to figure out which ones you need and how to use them appropriately to help your case.
A lawyer will be your advocate in the legal system. He or she has the expertise to decide whether you have sufficient evidence. If you don’t, then there is no reason to file a claim. Here are some of the documents that you may need:
Doctor’s notes
Police reports
Medical records and receipts
Pictures of injuries
Witness statements
If you have these pieces of evidence, it can help your lawyer.
Serious Injuries
One way to decide whether you need an attorney is based on the seriousness of your injuries. You need to take a look at your physical injuries, property damage and other pain and suffering causes. Your personal injury lawyer can evaluate you to see if you have a claim. The more serious your injuries were, the more likely you are to receive a settlement or for the insurance company to try to give you less than you deserve. If you suffered seriously, you need a lawyer.
Calculation of Pain and Suffering
In order to figure out if you need an attorney, you may want to calculate your pain and suffering damages. There is no set equation but there are methods. Of course, the easiest way to calculate your pain and suffering is to use a lawyer. Personal injury attorneys have the expertise and past knowledge to calculate the damages that you deserve.
Here are some of the noneconomic damages to think about:
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of companionship
Mental anguish
Loss of reputation
Shortened lifespan
Physical disfigurement
Pain and suffering
These damages are difficult to put a number on, but your lawyer will help you come up with a value.
To sue for pain and suffering is extremely complex. While some people will try to make a claim on their own, this isn’t always the best idea. You may not receive as much as you would or you may not know the ins and outs of making a claim. It’s best to have a lawyer to help you decide whether or not you have a case and how much you should demand.