Measuring Non-Economic Damages Within A Personal Injury Claim

Non-economic damages refer to intangible damages connected to bodily harm. An example of this most are familiar with is pain and suffering. Within a personal injury claim, non-economic damage recovery can be addressed. But the compensation is measured in a different way than economic damages, those have a direct receipt or bill attached to them.

While some harm is not able to be quantified through receipts and direct expenses, it still requires financial recovery in order for a person to heal from an accident in Clearwater, Hudson, or Tampa. A skilled attorney can look over the details of your case and let you know what options are available. The per diem method or the multiplier approach could be used to measure non-economic damages, for example.

Examples of Non-Economic Damage Eligible for Compensation

When measuring non-economic damages, the whole situation will be assessed. Professionals will look over the physical injuries sustained and the bills and expenses incurred as well as analyzing doctors notes about how long the recovery time could be and any life changes that will be present today and into the future.

Situations that could result in non-economic damage:

• Loss of opportunity. This could be connected to an accident victim’s inability to pursue an education or their career path due to bodily harm.
• Panic, anxiety, and PTSD. If a person is no longer able to live the daily life they did prior to the accident because they are suffering from PTSD, including panic attacks.
• Loss of life enjoyment. When a person is unable to participate in the life they once enjoyed.
• Disfigurement or scarring. Compensation for scarring and disfigurement is often connected to facial harm.

Pain and suffering is a broader term, but it could be used in conjunction with a more detailed demand for financial recovery.

Per Diem Compensation or Multiplier Method

When tallying economic damages, such as medical expenses, bills, receipts, and invoices are simply totaled. But when a Florida personal injury lawyer measures non-economic damages, it is common for them to use the per diem or multiplier method.

A per diem rate sets a daily amount to the recovering individual. Then, that daily amount is calculated. For example, the days a person was in the hospital could be added up and multiple by the per diem rate.

In other situations, the economic damage total is multiplied by a factor to compensate for pain and suffering and other non-economic damages. Depending on the severity of the bodily harm and suffering, the economic damages could be multiplied by a factor of 1.5 or 4, for instance.

Is scarring or loss of work an issue for you following a Florida accident? Talk to a skilled legal professional to understand what your options are moving forward. Compensation may be possible if you are juggling medical care expenses, property damages, and lost income. Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer to understand your rights. The attorneys at Roman & Roman have over 100 years of combined experience. Schedule your free consultation today.