Camp Lejeune US Marine Corp Base Water Contamination Poe Hall Affected Individuals Click Here! ×
Whitley Law Firm Injury Lawyers
  • About
    • Our Attorneys
      • Bob E. Whitley
      • Benjamin H. Whitley
      • Barrett Johnson
      • Jack Keener
      • Matthew Bissette
      • Ryan McCollum
      • Gabe Talton
      • Shelsey Hall
      • Dak Lee
      • Stephen Gugenheim
    • Case Results
    • Blog
  • Practice Areas
    • Car Accident
    • Wrongful Death
    • Truck Accident
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Construction Accident
    • Motorcycle Accident
    • Pedestrian Accident
    • Dog Bite
    • Premises Liability
    • Product Liability
      • Allergen Breast Implants
      • Hair Relaxer
      • Paragard IUD
      • Paraquat
      • Roundup
      • Talcum Powder
    • Dangerous Drugs
      • Belviq
      • Depo-Provera
      • Elmiron
      • Mounjaro/Ozempic
      • Tepezza
      • Valsartan
    • Defective Medical Devices
      • Exactech Hip Implants
      • Medtronic Insulin Pump
      • Penumbra
      • Powerport
      • Inferior Vena Cava
    • View All Practice Areas
  • Areas We Serve
    • Raleigh
    • Charlotte
    • Winston-Salem
    • Durham
    • Cary
    • Greenville
    • View All Areas We Serve
  • Community
    • Community Cares
    • In the Community
    • Free ‘Attorney on Call’ Book
    • Scholarship
  • FAQs
  • Videos
    • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
    • Free Case Evaluation
    • Careers
    • Business Opportunities
    • Free “Attorney on Call” Book
    • Press Opportunity
  • En Español
Call Now—Free & Confidential (800) 785-5000
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. FAQs
  4. »
  5. How Much Do Insurance Companies Pay for Pain and Suffering?
On This Page
  1. What Is Pain and Suffering in Personal Injury Cases?
  2. Factors That Influence the Value
  3. Methods Used to Determine Pain and Suffering Damages
  4. Proving Pain and Suffering
  5. What if the Insurance Company's Offer Is Too Low?
  6. Seek Fair Compensation With Whitley Law Firm

Get Free Advice About
The Compensation
You Deserve

Have a case?

How Much Do Insurance Companies Pay for Pain and Suffering?

Insurance companies pay for pain and suffering damages for the non-tangible harm you’ve received in an accident.

Insurance companies typically don’t have a set amount they pay for pain and suffering. The compensation varies widely depending on the specifics of each case, including the severity of injuries, impact on daily life, and long-term consequences.

Many times, the value of pain and suffering damages depends on negotiation. A Raleigh personal injury lawyer can work with your insurer to reach a fair value. Quite often, the value of your economic damages, the damages that can be easily calculated, form a baseline for pain and suffering damages.

What Is Pain and Suffering in Personal Injury Cases?

You may be entitled to compensation for your losses when injured due to someone else’s negligence. These losses often include more than just medical bills and lost wages; they can also encompass the physical pain and emotional suffering you’ve endured.

Pain and suffering damages are meant to compensate you for the physical discomfort and emotional distress caused by your injuries. This can include ongoing pain, loss of enjoyment of life, anxiety, depression, and other negative impacts on your well-being.

Insurance companies recognize pain and suffering as legitimate losses in personal injury claims. However, calculating a fair amount for these intangible losses isn’t easy. There’s no bill, quote, or receipt to show the cost of your pain.

The Whitley Advantage isn’t just one thing – it’s everything.

Contact Us Today For a FREE Confidential Case Review (800) 785-5000

Factors That Influence the Value

Several factors can affect how much an insurance company might pay for pain and suffering. The severity of your injuries plays a significant role. Generally, more severe injuries that cause intense pain or have long-lasting effects may result in higher compensation. 

The duration of your recovery also influences the amount. Longer recovery periods often lead to higher pain and suffering damages because of the increased span of discomfort and disruption to your life. 

Your age and overall health before the accident can also impact compensation. Younger individuals might receive higher awards due to potentially longer-lasting effects on their lives. For example, someone paralyzed at age 30 will need to be cared for longer than someone at age 80, so they need more compensation.

Methods Used to Determine Pain and Suffering Damages

Insurance companies, as do personal injury lawyers, use various methods to calculate pain and suffering compensation. Although it is a negotiated value, these methods can explain how much insurance companies pay for pain and suffering damages.

The Multiplier Method

One frequently used approach is the multiplier method. In this calculation, the insurance company multiplies your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) by a number typically between 1 and 5.

For example, if your medical bills and lost wages total $10,000, and a multiplier of 3 is used, your pain and suffering compensation might be $30,000. The multiplier chosen often depends on the severity of your injuries and other case-specific factors.

The Per Diem Method

Another approach is the per diem method. This assigns a value based on your daily earnings and multiplies it for each day you experience pain.

For instance, if you suffered for 100 days and your per diem rate is $200, your compensation might be $20,000.

Computerized Programs

Many insurance companies now use specialized software to calculate pain and suffering damages. These programs consider various factors, including the type of injury, treatment duration, and long-term prognosis.

While these programs aim for consistency, they may not account for the unique aspects of your situation. The advocacy of a personal injury attorney can help ensure you get a fair amount.

This firm has always been about people and helping them.

Contact Us Today For a FREE Confidential Case Review (800) 785-5000

Proving Pain and Suffering

One common challenge is proving the extent of your pain and suffering. Unlike medical bills, there’s no clear monetary value attached to how you feel after an accident. Documenting your experiences through pain journals, mental health records, and testimony from friends and family can help your claim.

Insurance companies may also dispute the connection between the accident and your pain and suffering, especially for pre-existing conditions or delayed onset symptoms. Clear medical documentation and expert testimony can help establish a link between your pain and suffering and your injuries.

We are committed to the highest quality client service and one-on-one attention.

Contact Us Today For a FREE Confidential Case Review (800) 785-5000

What if the Insurance Company’s Offer Is Too Low?

You have options if you believe your insurance company’s offer for pain and suffering is too low. You can counter their offer with a well-documented justification for a higher amount. This is where having detailed records of your experiences and their impact on your life helps.

If negotiations reach an impasse, you may need to consider legal action. Filing a lawsuit doesn’t necessarily mean going to trial, but it shows the insurance company that you’re serious about receiving fair compensation. You can do this with the help of a personal injury lawyer.

Seek Fair Compensation With Whitley Law Firm

How much your insurance company will pay for pain and suffering depends on the economic value of your case and negotiations between the insurer, you, and your lawyer. Every case is unique.

If you’re dealing with the aftermath of an injury and struggling to get fair compensation for your pain and suffering, we encourage you to contact Whitley Law Firm. Our experienced team can work with your insurer to come to a fair value for your pain and suffering damages.

Learn about what makes us unique and why we are the right firm to help you.

Contact Us Today For a FREE Confidential Case Review (800) 785-5000
Personal Injury Blog Posts:
Contributory Negligence

Contributory Negligence

North Carolina operates on the principle contributory negligence. What does that mean? Contributory negligence

Hiring an Lawyer in Raleigh

Hiring an Lawyer in Raleigh

Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney Selecting a Personal Injury Attorney Preparing for a Meeting with Your

Types of Injuries

Types of Injuries

Regardless of the details of your accident, there will be serious physical and mental repercussions that may take you

Social Security Benefits for Wounded Warriors

Social Security Benefits for Wounded Warriors

Disabled military service members may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits in addition to benefits

Benjamin H. Whitley

Benjamin H. Whitley

Attorney

Free Case Evaluation

To contact us by e-mail, please complete and submit the form below. Your question will be answered within 24 hours.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

FAQ Categories

  • Bad Faith Insurance
  • Car Accident
  • Construction Accident
  • Dog Bite
  • Insurance Claims
  • Motorcycle Accident
  • Negligence
  • Personal Injury
  • Premesis Liabilty
  • Product Liability
  • Slip and Fall Accident
  • Social Security
  • Social Security Disability
  • Truck Accident
  • Worker's Compensation
  • Wrongful Death
Find Yourself a Passionate Lawyer Now!
  • Raleigh Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Kinston Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Greenville Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Greensboro Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Winston Salem Personal Injury Lawyer
  • New Bern Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Durham Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Burlington Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Chapel Hill Personal Injury Lawyer

FAQs

What Type of Damages Can Be Recovered Following a Car Accident?

What Type of Damages Can Be Recovered Following a Car Accident?

What Types of On-The-Job Illnesses are Compensable?

What Types of On-The-Job Illnesses are Compensable?

What Types of Damages are Compensable in a Wrongful Death Claim?

What Types of Damages are Compensable in a Wrongful Death Claim?

FREE Case Evaluation

To contact us by e-mail, please complete and submit the form below. Your question will be answered within 24 hours.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get our latest news and updates delivered
directly to your inbox

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Whitley Law Firm Injury Lawyers

The Whitley Law Firm believes in giving back to the communities in which we live and work.

The Whitley Law Firm BBB Business Review
Important Links
  • About Us
  • Testimonials
  • Case Results
  • Community Support
  • Car Accident Lawyers
  • Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
  • Free Case Evaluation
Areas Served
  • Raleigh
  • Greenville
  • Kinston
  • Jacksonville
  • New Bern
  • Winston-Salem
  • Durham
  • Burlington
  • Cary
  • Chapel Hill
  • Fayetteville
  • Greensboro
  • Rocky Mount
  • Southern Pines
  • Wake Forest
  • Wilson
Contact Info
1000 Social St. Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27609
Get Directions
(800) 785-5000

© Copyright 2025 Whitley Law Firm Injury Lawyers.
All Rights Reserved.
Past results do not guarantee future success

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Giveaway Terms
  • Sitemap
Hennessey-Digital-Badge