We are often asked, “What is a reasonable settlement for pain and suffering in Colorado?” The attorneys at Tenge Law want to provide their expertise on this question.
After sustaining an injury, the pain and suffering that you go through are very real. Even though it can be hard to measure, you can seek compensation for it following a Colorado accident.
Lost wages and medical bills are forms of economic damage. They are tangible, have a precise monetary value, and are easily proven in court.
Unlike medical bills and lost wages, however, pain and suffering are a form of non-economic damage. Non-economic damages are intangible and, notably, lack a precise dollar value. Nevertheless, non-economic damages are just as relevant as economic damages in civil litigation.
If you are filing a claim for civil damages, you should always account for any pain and suffering you experience. Because pain and suffering are a form of non-economic damage, however, it is hard to know how much your pain and suffering are worth.
Tenge Law Firm is here to break down some pain and suffering settlement examples, so you will know how much a reasonable settlement for pain and suffering is before you file your claim.
Please online or call (303) 219-7377 today for a free consultation.
How Much Money do people request in your pain and suffering settlements?
Before estimating the value of your pain and suffering settlements, you should first know what qualifies as pain and suffering in Colorado.
Pain and suffering include both physical pain and mental anguish that you suffer as a result of the incident or injury.
If the accident or injury in question causes such suffering, you can include it in your settlement for pain and suffering.
Establishing Pain and Suffering
To recover pain and suffering damages you must show that the cause of your pain and suffering is the injury or incident itself. For example, if your pain and suffering stem from a car accident, you need to prove that the car accident caused the pain and suffering.
You can prove your suffering with the help of a medical or mental health professional.
Depending on how the incident is causing you pain and suffering, you might need to prove in court that:
- You received treatment for physical pain from a medical professional;
- You received psychological treatment from a mental health professional;
- You have lost a limb or your body was subject to permanent disfigurement; or
- You have lost the ability to do certain things that make you happy.
The key, no matter what form of pain and suffering you are dealing with, is proving that the incident caused your suffering. Establishing something like losing a limb is often a bit more straightforward than establishing things like insomnia or anxiety, as the latter requires a specific diagnosis.
Opposing parties often try to argue that mental health issues were pre-existing when claimants seek compensation for pain and suffering, but medical diagnoses will typically counter such claims. Later we will discuss pain and suffering settlement examples.
If you have questions about your personal injury accident, call Tenge Law for a free consultation. With experience in cases settling in the millions, our firm has built a strong reputation in Colorado. Call (303) 219-7377 today.
What are Pain and Suffering Settlement Examples in Colorado?
In Colorado, pain and suffering settlement examples can encompass a wide range of physical injuries that may qualify for compensation. These examples include but are not limited to:
- Traumatic Brain Injury: When an individual suffers severe head trauma resulting in cognitive impairment or other long-term consequences.
- Spinal Cord Injury (Such as Paralysis): Injuries to the spinal cord that lead to paralysis or significant loss of mobility.
- Neck Pain and Injuries: Compensation may be awarded for neck injuries that result in chronic pain or impairment.
- Back Pain and Injuries: Chronic back pain or injuries that impact an individual’s quality of life can also qualify.
- Nerve Damage: When injuries lead to nerve damage, causing pain and sensory issues.
- Broken or Fractured Bones: Fractured or broken bones, including fractures in limbs, can result in compensation.
- Internal Organ Damage: Injuries that cause damage to internal organs, requiring medical treatment and ongoing care.
These are just a few examples of the types of injuries that may be considered for pain and suffering settlements in Colorado. It’s important to consult with legal experts who specialize in personal injury cases to understand the specifics of your situation and the potential for compensation.
The reasonable value of your pain and suffering settlement depends on your individual circumstances. The length of your suffering, the form it takes, and its intensity can all affect your settlement value.
Furthermore, the total economic damages that you seek in your injury claim can also affect the value of your pain and suffering. Non-economic damages frequently exceed economic damages and may be calculated by multiplying economic damages by a number between 1 and 5, depending on their severity.
But at the end of the day, juries are given wide discretion in calculating awards for pain and suffering. They will evaluate all the evidence before them to calculate your award.
Unlike economic damages, Colorado caps the amount of non-economic damages you can recover in a given claim. With few exceptions, the cap on non-economic damages in civil claims is roughly $500,000.
Thus, most reasonable settlements for pain and suffering will not exceed $500,000.
In specific circumstances, your non-economic damages can exceed this cap, but Colorado courts apply a strict legal standard in such instances. If you believe your non-economic damages might exceed the cap, it is crucial that you speak to a personal injury lawyer right away.
Tenge Law Firm Can Help with Your Settlement for Pain and Suffering
Our pain and suffering lawyers can help you with your settlement for pain and suffering! While you can try calculating the value of your pain and suffering damages yourself, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you pursue the maximum pain and suffering compensation available under the law.
The personal injury attorneys at Tenge Law Firm in Colorado are here to help you through the legal process and fight for all of the damages you suffered. We have offices in Fort Collins, Boulder, and Denver, where our top priority is to fulfill all our clients’ needs.
We have recovered more than $50 million for our clients in the last 7 years alone.
