Between the procedures, pain management, and rehabilitation, the costs of treating a serious injury can add up quickly. However, these “actual” expenses only tell part of the story. Pain and suffering can have a profound impact on a patient’s life, but it’s an “expense” that is difficult to quantify. In this article, we share our tips for calculating pain and suffering costs.
At Cardinal LifeCare Consulting, we create evidence-based and objective life care plans designed to provide an accurate assessment of the patient’s current and future medical needs. We have experts create carefully evaluated pain and suffering reports. Our legal nurse consultants can also help organize and analyze medical records, determine applicable standards of care, create life care plans, serve as expert witnesses, identify and screen expert witnesses, research medical literature, and prepare evidence for trial. Call us today at 724-487-0519 to get started.
What is Pain and Suffering?
Pain and suffering is a catch-all term used to describe both emotional and physical anguish resulting from an injury, illness, or condition. Pain and suffering can include visible signs such as disfiguration, scarring, discomfort, inability to engage in certain activities (such as a hobby or sport), embarrassment, depression, anxiety, stress, and any other unwelcome repercussions of an injury.
How is Pain and Suffering Calculated?
Unlike calculating the cost of treatment or rehabilitation, determining compensation for pain and suffering is not an exact science. Typically, personal injury lawyers will use the “multiplier” method which involves multiplying economic damages – lost wages and medical bills – by a number between 1 to 5 depending on the severity of the condition or injury.
However, insurance companies often take their own approach to calculating this amount. Many, if not all, make use of statistical models and algorithms that will determine this total based on factors such as the treatments required, the type of injury, and lost wages.
A life care plan will give you an overview of the patients current and future medical needs, providing you with the information you need to not only calculate the actual costs, but also determine non-economic costs such as pain and suffering.
Need Accurate Medical Cost Projections? Contact Us Today
If you’re an attorney working on a lawsuit involving a patient claiming for pain and suffering, the team at Cardinal LifeCare Consulting can assist in your case. Whether it’s preparing evidence for trial, creating an objective life care plan, or finding the appropriate expert witness for your case, our team is with you every step of the way. Contact us today at 724-487-0519 to find out more.
