Are you a victim of negligence or personal injury in Texas? If so, then you’re likely familiar with the concept of pain and suffering. It’s a term often used to describe emotional and physical damages related to an injury. But how are pain and suffering calculated in Texas? Let’s look at the primary multiplier method used to calculate pain and suffering in Texas.
The Primary Multiplier Method
Insurance companies use the primary multiplier method to determine the value of your pain and suffering. This method considers all your economic damages—such as medical bills, lost wages, etc.—and multiplies that sum on a scale between 1.5 and five. The higher the courts deemed the number, the more serious your injury. For instance, if you were awarded $30,000 for your economic damages, but had an emotional trauma rating of 4 on the multiplier scale (1 being minor injuries like cuts or bruises, 5 being life-threatening conditions), then you would be awarded up to $120,000 for your pain and suffering ($30K x 4).
It’s important to note that this formula does not consider any non-economic damages such as physical disfigurement or emotional distress. That said, if you have suffered from mental anguish due to an injury caused by another party’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing, then it may be possible for you to receive more compensation than what is provided through this formula. For this additional compensation to be considered, however, it must be proven that there was a direct correlation between the defendant’s actions and your resulting injuries.
When it comes down to it, understanding how pain and suffering is calculated in Texas can be complex and overwhelming process―especially when you consider all of those non-economic damages that can also play a role in determining how much compensation you will receive for your claim. That said, working with experienced legal counsel can help ensure that all aspects are considered so that you can get the maximum amount possible out of your settlement agreement. If you have been injured due to negligence or intentional wrongdoing in Texas, contact Walker Texas Lawyer today for help with understanding how pain and suffering might factor into your case!
