What “Pain and Suffering” Really Means for Your Baltimore Injury Claim
There’s a lot of mystery surrounding “pain and suffering” in a Baltimore personal injury claim. Rather than some random number, pain and suffering damages actually represent one of the most significant and most contested components of any serious injury claim in Maryland.
Understanding what pain and suffering actually covers, how these damages are calculated, and what stands in the way of recovering them gives you a real advantage. Our experienced Maryland personal injury lawyers explain what you need to know to get the total amount you deserve.
Pain and Suffering in Baltimore Injury Claims: What These Damages Cover
Pain and suffering sounds vague, but it actually isn’t. These are non-economic damages that reflect the full human cost of an injury, including all the impacts victims experience, aside from their actual financial losses. Common types of impacts that fall under pain and suffering damages in a Baltimore personal injury claim include:
- Physical pain experienced during recovery and on an ongoing basis due to your injuries.
- Emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and the psychological toll of living with what happened.
- Lost enjoyment in life if injuries prevent you from participating in hobbies and activities valued before the accident.
- Sleep disruption and fatigue caused by chronic pain, trauma, or the stress of navigating a long and uncertain recovery.
- Relationship strain and loss of intimacy due to severe injuries.
When you suffer personal injuries in Baltimore due to another’s negligence, you have the right to hold them responsible for the pain and suffering you experience as a result.
How Maryland Calculates Pain and Suffering and What Can Reduce Your Recovery
Unlike medical bills and lost wages, pain-and-suffering damages don’t come with a receipt. Here’s what Baltimore injury victims need to know about how they are calculated:
- Maryland courts and insurance adjusters often use either a multiplier based on economic damages or the per diem method, assigning a daily value to the victim’s suffering.
- Maryland caps non-economic damages (pain and suffering) in certain injury cases, and juries weigh evidence carefully.
- Gaps in medical treatment give insurance companies grounds to argue that your suffering was not as serious as claimed.
- Personal journals documenting daily pain levels, emotional struggles, and lifestyle limitations are among the most compelling forms of evidence.
Keep in mind that when it comes to pain and suffering in a Baltimore injury claim, Maryland’s contributory negligence rule means that any finding of shared fault on your part can impact your ability to get compensation. To protect your rights, get professional legal help.
Request a Consultation Today With Our Experienced Baltimore Personal Injury Lawyers
Pain and suffering damages often represent a significant portion of Baltimore injury claims, but insurers are quick to downplay the amount you deserve. At Maryland Injury Lawyers, we fight to make sure you get the maximum amount you deserve.
If you were injured in a Baltimore accident, contact our office. Our experienced Maryland personal injury lawyers are here to help. Request a consultation today.
Sources:
mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=11-108
dls.maryland.gov/pubs/prod/CourtCrimCivil/Negligence-Systems.pdf
