Medical Malpractice - What is Pain and Suffering?

Posted by Criminal Defense Lawyer Tuesday, March 23, 2010

the term pain and suffering is a legal term that is used to describe or place validity and value on the physical and tender and emotional stress that was the direct result of an injury to an individual. This is used to place compensatory validity and value on an injury that someone has suffered. Possible damages that may fall within this grouping may include, but not exclusive and limited to, are aches both dominant and permanent and transitory and temporary that limit one’s energy and activity, a possible reduction in one’s life, possible scarring, and mental solitude and depression. Lawsuits that are filed in the response to an injury often seek some form of compensation. This can be a monetary compensation for money that was lost (medical bills, prostration and loss of work) and for the stress related to the pain associated with the injury at hand.

if the case does proceed to trial, the plaintiff has the burden of proof to demonstrate that all fundamentals of their case are true. Usually both parties will present expert witnesses to the court in an act to back their claim. The medical practitioner (defendant) may present expert witness to support their case and to prove that their standard of care was not below accepted standards of care in the medical field. The plaintiff will present his/her expert witness to prove that such damages did in fact occur and prove that the medical care was below standards. In this resolution and effort both parties work to establish some form of credibility to support their case.

if a case proceeds to trial, a monetary award can be awarded by the jury to compensate for pain and suffering. This can depend on many different factors. In many states, there is a cap for the maximum amount that can be awarded for pain and suffering. The actual amount that is awarded will depend on several factors such as the personality of the plaintiff, the personality of the attorney representing the plaintiff, the impact of the injury, etc. It is very difficult to predict the actual amount of compensation that can be awarded in the event a impertinent and personal injury case is won. There are too many variables to accurately predict this.

cases can be settled outside of court. Traditionally, most pain and suffering cases are settled outside of court. This is the simplest and fastest way to settle a case. A demand for a monetary settlement is customarily sent to an insurer by the plaintiff’s legal representation. This demand will spell out the injury that the plaintiff competent and experienced, the medical bills of the plaintiff, the work lost, and any and all facts that resulted in the injury. The insurance company will probably adhere to their company’s guidelines which allow their adjuster to modify the claim; such that it will not be taken to court. These settlements tend to fluctuate subordinate and dependent on many different factors, such as the time of year, the economy, etc.

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