After a car accident, victims often focus on medical expenses and lost income—but the emotional and physical toll of an injury can be just as significant. Understanding pain and suffering damages in a Virginia car accident claim is essential for ensuring you receive full and fair compensation. These damages go beyond financial losses, addressing the real human impact of an accident—your pain, trauma, and reduced quality of life.

Virginia’s trusted car accident lawyers at Kalfus & Nachman are dedicated to helping victims recover the compensation they deserve, including damages for pain and suffering.

What Are Pain and Suffering Damages?

Pain and suffering damages are part of non-economic losses that result from a car accident injury. They reflect the emotional and physical hardships you endure from the accident, unlike easily documented medical expenses or lost wages.

These damages may include:

• Physical pain: Chronic pain, ongoing discomfort, or permanent disability
• Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress
• Loss of enjoyment of life: Inability to follow hobbies, family activities, or everyday routines
• Disfigurement or scarring: The emotional and social effects of visible injuries

Pain and suffering damages are designed to recognize that an injury affects far more than your finances—it can change the way you live and experience life every day.

How Pain and Suffering Differ from Other Types of Damages

In a Virginia car accident claim, damages are generally divided into two main categories—economic and non-economic.

Economic damages, such as medical bills and loss of earnings, compensate you for measurable financial losses. Receipts, invoices, and employment records support them.

Compensation for pain and suffering, alternatively, falls under the category of non-economic damages. They account for the intangible impact of an injury—the emotional distress, physical discomfort, and loss of normal life enjoyment that cannot be assigned a direct dollar value.

While medical bills pay for your treatment and lost wages replace your income, pain and suffering damages aim to restore something more profound—the peace of mind and quality of life you’ve lost due to someone else’s negligence.

How Pain and Suffering Are Calculated in Virginia Injury Claims

Calculating pain and suffering damages in a Virginia car accident claim can be complex because there’s no standard formula. Courts and insurance companies may consider several factors, such as:

• The severity and duration of your injuries
• The level of physical pain and emotional trauma
• How your daily life and relationships been affected
• The credibility of medical evidence and expert testimony

In some cases, attorneys or insurance adjusters use methods such as:

• Multiplier method: Multiplying your total economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) by a factor—usually between 1.5 and 5—depending on the injury’s severity.
• Per diem method: Assigning a daily value to your suffering and multiplying it by the number of days you’ve been affected.

An experienced Virginia car accident attorney can help ensure that your pain and suffering are accurately valued and that insurance companies don’t undervalue your claim.

Why Legal Representation Matters to Claim for Pain & Suffering

Insurance providers frequently seek to minimize non-economic damages, arguing that pain and suffering are “subjective.” However, with strong legal representation, you can present compelling evidence of how your injuries have impacted your life—both physically and emotionally.

Kalfus & Nachman works closely with medical professionals, psychologists, and economists to build a comprehensive case that fully reflects your suffering and future needs.

Contact Virginia Car Accident Lawyers Who Care

If you’ve been injured in a crash, don’t let insurance companies determine the value of your pain. Understanding pain and suffering damages in a Virginia car accident claim is the first step toward fair compensation.

With offices conveniently located in Newport News, Norfolk, and Roanoke, Kalfus & Nachman is proud to serve clients across Virginia—providing compassionate support and trusted legal guidance when it matters most.

Contact our skilled Virginia car accident lawyers today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you secure the compensation you deserve for both your economic and emotional losses. Call (855) 880-8163