Damages for pain and suffering following an injury accident depend on a number of factors, one of which is the type (severity) of injury suffered. Insurance companies use the type of injuries sustained to plug into a damages formula to arrive at a settlement figure. It stands to reason that the more painful an injury is or how serious it is will translate into more damages.
Insurance companies typically divide injuries into two main categories, including soft tissue and hard injury:
Soft tissue includes strains or sprains of the back, neck or other parts of the body which are usually evidenced through the description of discomfort by the patient. They include injuries to the muscles or soft connecting tissue and are considered less serious when calculating damages.
Hard injuries such as broken bones, head or neck injuries, and lacerations are ones that can be specifically detected through a medical examination by observations of a doctor, medical imaging or other test. Wounds that need stitching, herniated discs in the spine, or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are considered hard injuries which typically result in more damages paid to those injured.
Just because your injury may seem less serious on the surface, it doesn’t mean that it has not had a significant impact on your life. The type of injury is one factor insurance companies use to determine damages, but there are also factors such as the type and duration of medical treatment you must undergo, and also the type of medical providers from whom you receive treatment.
If you or a family member has been injured from negligence in an accident, contact the Des Moines personal injury law offices of Stoltze & Stoltze PLC. We can help you obtain full compensation for your damages and losses for injuries suffered as a result of an accident, including reimbursement for medical expenses and lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional damages or an inability to participate in educational, work or leisure activities as a result of your injury. Contact our law offices today at 515-244-1473 to schedule a free consultation.
