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How Do I Prove Pain and Suffering After an Accident

Seth Harris

Last modified on June 19, 2023

If you suffered an injury in an accident, the physical and emotional pain might be overwhelming. You could be entitled to seek compensation for your accident-related losses, and your pain and suffering is essential in determining the financial relief you deserve. However, proving pain and suffering after an accident requires careful documentation and effective communication. In this blog post, the legal team at Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb will explore two crucial aspects of proving pain and suffering: the importance of keeping a pain journal and how to describe pain and suffering accurately.

The Importance of Keeping a Pain Journal

One powerful tool for proving pain and suffering is a pain journal. A journal serves as a personal record of your physical and emotional difficulties after an accident. You can provide valuable evidence to support your case by consistently documenting your pain and suffering.

Maintaining a pain journal offers several benefits. First, it helps you track the progression of your injuries and any related discomfort over time. This comprehensive record allows you to demonstrate the severity and duration of your pain. Second, it provides specific details that you might forget or overlook later, ensuring accuracy when presenting your case. Last, a well-kept pain journal demonstrates your commitment to your recovery and legal claim, which can positively impact the court’s perception of your case.

To create a pain journal, note the date and time of your pain or discomfort and briefly describe what you experience. Be specific and detailed. Include information about the location of the pain, its intensity on a scale from 1 to 10, and any activities or circumstances that worsen or alleviate the pain. Regularly update your journal with any changes, new symptoms, or emotional struggles you experience.

How to Describe Pain and Suffering 

Describing your pain and suffering is crucial for conveying its impact to insurance companies, opposing attorneys, and the court. However, articulating these experiences can be challenging. To maximize your chances of success, consider the following tips:

  • Use descriptive language – Use vivid and descriptive terms to describe your pain clearly. Instead of simply stating, “I’m in pain,” try using phrases like “stabbing sensation” or “persistent throbbing.”
  • Provide examples and comparisons – Describe your pain in terms of relatable experiences. For example, you could say, “The pain in my back is similar to a constant, dull ache as if I’m carrying a heavy backpack all the time.”
  • Communicate the impact – Describe how your pain and suffering affect your daily life. Explain the limitations it imposes on your ability to work, engage in hobbies, or enjoy time with loved ones. By illustrating the real-life consequences, you can convey the full extent of your suffering. Remember, honesty is crucial when describing your pain and suffering. Exaggeration or misleading information can undermine your credibility and harm your case.

Gathering Supporting Evidence 

To strengthen your case and validate your claims of pain and suffering, an experienced attorney can gather supporting evidence. Some critical pieces of evidence your lawyer might collect are: 

  • Medical records – These documents officially record your injuries, diagnoses, and treatments. They are objective evidence of your pain and suffering and can support your claim.
  • Expert testimonies – Expert witnesses, such as medical professionals or therapists, can provide specialized insights into your condition. Their professional opinions and evaluations carry weight in proving the extent of your pain and suffering.
  • Photographs and videos – Visual evidence can be compelling. Take pictures or videos of visible injuries, physical limitations, or the impact of your pain on your day-to-day life. If you gather evidence, organize it systematically, making it easier for your attorney to present a strong case on your behalf.

Seeking Professional Legal Assistance 

Proving pain and suffering after an accident is a complex process that requires legal expertise. Consult an experienced personal injury lawyer at Harris Keenan & Goldfarb who can advocate for your rights and interests after an accident. 

A skilled attorney can evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and gather the necessary evidence. A lawyer will possess the knowledge and resources to strengthen your pain and suffering claim, increasing your chances of receiving fair compensation.

Contact Our Personal Injury Attorneys Today 

Proving pain and suffering after an accident is crucial for obtaining the compensation you deserve. You can build a strong case by keeping a detailed pain journal, effectively describing your experiences, gathering supporting evidence, and seeking professional legal assistance. Contact the experienced team at Harris Keenan & Goldfarb today to get started. Call us at 1-800-PAIN-LAW, or fill out our online form. 

Over $500 Million in Verdicts and Settlements

Our track record showcases over $500 million won for our clients. Each victory underlines our commitment to justice and client care. Explore our impact, case by case.

VERDICT

$17,500,000

A Brooklyn jury awarded Mr. Vargas $17.5 million for the City of New York’s violation of his civil rights for failing to provide him medical care while in custody. The jury found that the police officers involved failed to provide the necessary medical treatment and awarded $17.5 million to Mr. Vargas.

VERDICT

$4,730,398

Harris Keenan & Goldfarb partners Seth Harris and Sheri Holland obtained a $4,730,398.00 jury verdict on behalf of our client who tripped and fell at a private apartment building in the Bronx, suffering a broken foot that developed a very painful, permanent neurological condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (“RSD”).

VERDICT

$12,561,772

A Bronx jury awarded John Doe over $12 million for an accident on a construction site. John Doe was working when a piece of scaffold weighing 35 pounds fell, striking John Doe in the lower back. John Doe suffered a herniated disc requiring surgical removal of a portion of the disc and permanent nerve damage.

VERDICT

$10,500,000

A Bronx jury awarded $10.5 million to the mother of Malcolm Ferguson, who was wrongfully shot and killed by the New York City Police Department. The police officer, Louis Rivera, also a defendant in the case, was found to have used excessive force in violation of Malcolm Ferguson’s civil rights as protected under the United States Constitution.

VERDICT

$4,000,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff William Cardoza $4 million for injuries caused by the use of excessive force during an arrest. During the arrest, Mr. Cardoza was pepper-sprayed and repeatedly hit with a police nightstick. As a result, Mr. Cardoza sustained injuries to his hand and finger.

VERDICT

$3,470,670

The firm’s client, a 33-year-old teacher’s assistant, was scalded by an espresso machine that exploded while the defendant’s employee was demonstrating how the machine worked. The client was a customer at the defendant’s coffee shop on the date of the accident and suffered first-degree burns to her right (dominant) hand.

VERDICT

$4,000,000

The firm represented the mother- decedent and her infant son. During the decedent’s admission to the defendant hospital, the defendant dispensed anesthesia during an epidural to the decedent in an inadequate manner. The mother-decedent suffered personal injuries and wrongful death due to the defendant’s failure to properly administer epidural anesthesia.

VERDICT

$3,823,000

Mr.Brennan fell from approximately 25 feet while working on a construction project. He suffered a shattered bone in his right leg requiring surgery and hardware placement. Mr. Brennan also suffered two fractures in his facial bones, and a dislocated finger requiring surgical repair.

VERDICT

$2,750,000

The firm’s client was a child with cerebral palsy who was injured as a result of medical malpractice. The firm’s clients claimed improper management of pregnancy, labor, and delivery resulting in brain damage, and received a Brooklyn personal injury settlement.

VERDICT

$1,677,835

The firm’s client, a 63-year-old mentally incompetent man, slipped and fell in his own urine while attempting to walk to the bathroom at the defendant’s senior citizen home. The client fractured his hip and as a result is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The client claimed that the staff of the home failed to properly care for him, and the jury awarded $1,677,835.

VERDICT

$2,995,000

The firm’s client, a 47-year-old male, slipped and fell on a public sidewalk in the Bronx. It had snowed four to five days prior to the date of the accident, and the sidewalk was covered with ice. The client suffered a lumbar fracture and a herniated disc. The jury found the city liable and awarded the client a $2,995,000 personal injury settlement in the Bronx.

VERDICT

$2,610,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff Luis Molina $2.61 million for injuries sustained when he fell down a subway station stairway. Mr. Molina was caused to slip and fall as a result of a plastic bag that had blown onto the steps from a street opening. As a result of the fall, Mr. Molina suffered a herniated disc and a tear of his right shoulder’s rotator cuff. The jury found that the NYC Transit Authority was liable for the accident.

VERDICT

$2,253,714

A Bronx jury awarded Ms. Colon $2.25 million for a trip and fall accident. Ms. Colon was caused to fall when she moved to the right to allow another pedestrian to pass, and her foot rolled to the outside due to the sidewalk being unlevel with the adjoining grass. The jury found the defendant liable and awarded Ms. Colon $2,253,714.00 for her pain and suffering.

VERDICT

$1,900,000

A Brooklyn jury awarded Arvella Floyd $1.9 million for a fractured wrist which required multiple surgeries, including an open-reduction internal fixation and a carpal tunnel release. Ms. Floyd was injured when the hot water knob of the shower fell off after numerous complaints to the superintendent, and scalding water spewed toward her, causing her to
fall and break her wrist.

VERDICT

$1,350,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff Juanita Young $1,350,000 for injuries caused by the use of excessive force during an arrest. During the arrest, Ms. Young, who is legally blind, was handcuffed from behind, with her children watching, and taken to the top of the stairs to exit the building. The officer proceeded to push her down the stairs multiple times.

What Our Clients Say About Us

david Santiagodavid Santiago
18:05 21 Mar 24
Maria RoqueMaria Roque
20:49 15 Mar 24
Excellent person, very Professional, they assist you in any language, your call is always answered. I recommend you for any case of support you have, your refund is satisfactory. and fast
S SS S
14:09 02 Mar 24
I am completely satisfied, and recommend Harris Keenan & Goldfarb as Attorneys to represent anyone. Their care for me physically, and overall helped me stay strong in spite of my injuries. Always available to answer questions, and inform.They got me Justice, and achieved a substantial outcome for my case.I am very impressed, and thankful for their outstanding performance on my behalf.I am very pleased, and significantly satisfied with their representation.‐-Sherylon Wilkins
Robert LennonRobert Lennon
15:26 21 Feb 24
Patient and diligence is how I describe the effort of HKG the work was thorough, honest and fair, I have no complaints. Special thanks to attorney Blake and his paralegal Thierry.
Gene Matos (fanboye)Gene Matos (fanboye)
18:48 15 Jan 24
I first crossed paths with Seth Harris when serving jury duty many years ago. He was so professional and personable, that when my mom was seeking legal counsel for medical malpractice, I told her she had to reach out to his firm. We had meetings with a few different firms, but Harris Keenan & Goldfarb was the only firm that did not try to get us to sign paperwork before even meeting. They took the time to listen and understand our situation before we signed anything, and they were transparent and responsive the whole time. I would like to give special thanks to Samantha Walton, Marla Stein, Val Wallace and Seth Harris for helping my mom through this tough time. They were honest and upfront, and even though Seth Harris wasn't personally on the case, he took the time to meet with us and give us his thoughts on it.
Solange IsaacSolange Isaac
17:52 08 Jan 24
I am pleased with the services provided by Ms Sheri on my case. The team at Harris, Keenan, & Goldfarb were very nice and explained everything to me. Everything that I had questions on they answered without frustration and were prompt and knowledgeable.6 years ago I had a slip and fall accident at my employers place of business. I reached out to them because I knew that I was being wrongfully treated. They took care of the case, restored my self confidence, and brought so much peace to my problem riddled life.I can recommend without a shadow of a doubt the services of Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb to anyone who is in need of someone who will have your back!
Brittany DempseyBrittany Dempsey
16:02 08 Jan 24
My mother had an accident with her ankle back in 2019. I immediately contacted Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb on the day of the accident. They were extremely prompt and helpful. They attended to my mother's case beautifully and she's been recovering well. I'd like to thank you for being so diligent, kind and above all professional. I'd recommend this law firm to anyone who are injured and in need of legal assistance. My mother, Andrea, and I thank you for everything.
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