“Pain and suffering” is simply a term used to describe the physical pain and emotional distress one has endured as the result of a personal injury. Pain and suffering is just one category of damages that you may pursue in a personal injury claim or lawsuit. Other types of damages can include medical expenses incurred, lost wages, a diminished earning capacity, loss of consortium, etc.
Pain and suffering differs from one person to the next; Suffering some kind of physical and emotional trauma after a car accident or other type of personal injury is normal and expected. Pain and suffering can range from mild, such as discomfort caused by a relatively-minor injury, to very serious, such as chronic back pain, migraines, disfiguring scars, PTSD, etc.
Our brains respond to external trauma by interpreting it as pain. This pain can be quantified in a number of ways, but it’s always best to have your attorney prove up your damages and prepare your official demand.
While seeking compensation for pain and suffering is extremely common, it is unlikely that you will win a claim based on pain and suffering alone, if there is no verifiable evidence of a physical injury, such as medical bills. For this reason, it’s vital that you seek medical attention as soon as possible following an injury. Failing to do so only gives credence to the insurance company’s inevitable argument that you did not actually suffer an injury.