In the aftermath of a personal injury, you have the right to pursue damages for all your losses, from wages and income to medical expenses, from loss of companionship or consortium to pain and suffering. In an earlier blog, we looked at the different types of pain and suffering, and briefly discussed the concept of a “multiplier,” where the court calculates “out-of-pocket” losses and multiplies by a factor to calculate the award for pain and suffering. In New Jersey, that amount might be one to three times out-of-pocket damages or it can be ten times that amount.
We noted in the earlier blog that courts customarily instruct juries to use common sense and experience when calculating damages for pain and suffering. In this blog, we look at some of the concrete factors that we know juries take into consideration when assessing pain and suffering. There are many, including:
- Whether or not you, as the injured party (plaintiff) are a good and favorable witness. This includes not only your appearance and demeanor during examination and cross-examination, but your perceived credibility. Juries will likely be instructed to listen carefully, so that they can determine if there are inconsistencies in your testimony, or whether it seems that you are exaggerating any claims. It won’t matter if your contradictory statements had anything to do with the extent of your pain and suffering. If it appears that you fabricated or misrepresented anything, it can have an impact on your ability to get damages for pain and suffering.
- Whether there is medical testimony to support your claims of pain and suffering
- Whether the allegations of pain and suffering make sense to the jury
- Any prior criminal record you may have
Contact Attorney Howard D. Popper
To learn your options after a car accident during work hours, contact our office online or call attorney Popper at 973-993-8787. We have offices in Morristown and Newton, but will come to your home or the hospital, if necessary. There is no charge for your first consultation.
We handle all personal injury claims on a contingency basis. You won’t be charged any legal fees unless attorney Popper recovers compensation for your losses.