Personal Injury Lawyer Easley
Accidents can happen when you least expect them, and if you’ve suffered an injury in Easley, Mann, Blake & Jackson is ready to stand by your side. Our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers work tirelessly to ensure our clients receive the justice and compensation they need to recover and move forward. Call 864-777-4262 to schedule your free consultation today.
Our practice areas include:
- Car Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Slip and Falls
- Wrongful Death
Understanding Pain and Suffering in an Easley Personal Injury Case
When someone gets hurt because of another person’s carelessness, the consequences often go beyond physical wounds. There’s also the emotional and mental toll—the frustration of not being able to work, enjoy life, or even sleep without pain. These types of losses are known as “non-economic damages,” and they can play a major role in the value of a personal injury case. One of the most common forms is pain and suffering.
If you were injured in an accident in Easley, understanding how pain and suffering is evaluated can help you know what to expect.
What Pain and Suffering Mean Under South Carolina Law
In South Carolina, pain and suffering refer to the physical discomfort and emotional distress a person experiences because of an injury. It includes more than just the initial pain from an accident. It covers long-term symptoms, chronic conditions, anxiety, depression, loss of sleep, fear, and other psychological effects that make daily life harder.
Pain and suffering fall under the category of non-economic damages, which means it doesn’t have a fixed dollar amount like medical bills or lost wages. Instead, the value depends on how the injury impacts the person’s life.
Examples of Pain and Suffering
Every injury affects people differently. Here are a few examples of what might qualify:
- Constant back pain after a car crash on I-85
- Nightmares and anxiety after a dog attack
- Depression following the loss of mobility from a slip-and-fall injury
- Inability to enjoy hobbies, like biking through Falls Park or playing with your kids
- Emotional distress from scarring or disfigurement
Even if the injury eventually heals, the experience of pain and emotional strain during recovery may still be compensable.
How Insurance Companies View Pain and Suffering
Insurance adjusters don’t use a universal formula when assessing pain and suffering. Instead, they often rely on internal guidelines, past claim data, and negotiation tactics designed to minimize payouts.
That’s one reason why injured people in Easley should be cautious when accepting a settlement offer early in the process. If your condition worsens or your emotional toll grows over time, an early agreement might not reflect your full experience.
Insurance companies typically look at the following factors when evaluating pain and suffering:
- Type and severity of the injury
- Length of recovery
- Type of medical treatment required
- Medication usage (especially for pain or mental health)
- Impact on work, hobbies, and relationships
- Credibility and consistency in medical records and personal statements
Common Methods Used To Estimate Damages
While there’s no fixed system for valuing pain and suffering, two common methods are often used as reference points—by attorneys, insurers, and sometimes even courts.
Multiplier method
This approach multiplies the total amount of economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, etc.) by a number, usually between 1.5 and 5. The multiplier is based on how serious the injury is. For example:
- A broken arm that heals quickly might be a 1.5
- A permanent back injury requiring surgery could be a 4 or 5
Let’s say your medical bills and lost wages total $20,000. If your pain and suffering is assigned a multiplier of 3, your non-economic damages would be $60,000.
Per diem method
This method assigns a daily rate to your pain and suffering, then multiplies it by the number of days you were affected. The daily rate can be tied to your actual daily wages or another reasonable figure.
For instance, if your recovery took 180 days and your daily rate is set at $200, the total would be $36,000.
Not every case uses these calculations directly, but they can serve as helpful starting points in settlement discussions.
What Strengthens a Pain and Suffering Claim
Documentation is key. The more evidence you can provide to show how your life has changed since the injury, the more weight your claim carries.
Helpful forms of documentation include:
- Medical records showing ongoing treatment or pain management
- Therapist or counseling notes
- Prescription history for pain or anxiety
- Personal journal entries describing daily struggles
- Testimony from family, friends, or coworkers about changes in your behavior or mood
Photos of visible injuries, changes in mobility, or activities you used to enjoy but no longer can also support your case.
How Juries May Consider Pain and Suffering in Easley
If your case goes to trial, the jury will be responsible for placing a dollar value on your pain and suffering. They are instructed to use their judgment, based on the evidence presented.
Jurors may consider:
- Whether the pain is temporary or permanent
- Whether it affects your ability to work or interact with others
- How much the injury changed your quality of life
There’s no cap on pain and suffering damages in most personal injury cases in South Carolina, though limits can apply in certain types of lawsuits like medical malpractice.
Why Legal Guidance Makes a Difference
Calculating non-economic damages can be one of the most disputed parts of a personal injury claim. Insurance companies often argue that pain and suffering is exaggerated or unsupported.
An experienced personal injury attorney in Easley can help build a strong case by gathering medical records, arranging expert evaluations, and presenting clear evidence of how the injury has affected your life. They also understand how local courts treat these cases and can advise you on whether a settlement offer is fair or if it’s worth going to trial.
Easley Personal Injury Attorney You Can Rely On
Don’t let an accident in Easley derail your future. The experienced team at Mann, Blake & Jackson is here to guide you through your personal injury claim with skill and dedication. Reach out today at 864-777-4262 for a free consultation and let us help you move forward with confidence.
