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How is Pain and Suffering Calculated in a Motor Vehicle Accident Claim in Connecticut?


Motor vehicle collisions happen every single day in our region. The Connecticut Department of Transportation reports that there are an average of 111,776 crashes reported annually statewide. If you were involved in a serious accident in Hartford County, you may be entitled to financial compensation, including for non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering. 

You want to know: How is pain and suffering compensation calculated in Connecticut? The brief answer is that there is no fixed standard—juries are instructed to use “good judgment” to determine a reasonable award. Here, our Glastonbury car accident lawyer provides a more thorough guide to how pain and suffering compensation is calculated in a personal injury claim in Glastonbury, Connecticut.  

What is Pain and Suffering?

Pain and suffering is a broad legal term used to describe the physical pain and emotional trauma associated with an injury. By definition, pain and suffering is an intangible loss. There is no specific calculation that can be used to determine a person’s pain and suffering damages. Connecticut acknowledges this in the state’s official jury instructions. The Connecticut Judicial Branch Civil Jury Instructions provides the following guidance to a jury trying to calculate pain and suffering: 

  • You simply have to use your own good judgment in awarding damages in this category.”

As a general rule, a victim’s actual economic damages will be used as a basis to help determine their pain and suffering. With this in mind, it is crucial that your medical bills and lost wages are properly documented. Not only do these damages need to be well-documented to ensure that you are fully and fairly compensated for them, but proper documentation will make it easier to recover from pain and suffering. 

A Lawyer Can Help You Get Full and Fair Compensation for Pain and Suffering

Most motor vehicle accident claims in Connecticut are handled by big insurance providers. Sadly, an insurance company is not interested in doing what is best for you and your family. The company has a financial incentive to protect its own financial bottom line. As pain and suffering damages are inherently ambiguous, large insurance companies frequently undervalue these losses in car accident claims. If you endured significant pain and suffering in a car crash, it is imperative that you have a skilled Connecticut car accident lawyer in your corner. Your attorney will help to make sure that you are in the best position to obtain a settlement that properly accounts for pain and suffering. 

Call Our Glastonbury, CT Car Accident Attorney Today

At Tehrani Law Group, LLC, our Connecticut motor vehicle accident lawyer is an experienced, results-centered advocate for injured victims. If you have any questions about recovering compensation for pain and suffering, we can help. Contact us today to arrange a free, no-obligation initial consultation. From our law office in Glastonbury, we fight for the rights of injured victims throughout the region, including in Hartford, Manchester, East Hartford, and Enfield.