After an accident, there can be immense impacts on your health and well-being, not just physically, but mentally as well. Your career may be impacted, your quality of life, your future job prospects, and even your relationships with family members. Pursuing a settlement that includes pain and suffering can be a complicated undertaking – but partnering with a law firm like The Kalka Law Group can increase your chance at a settlement that includes quantification for all aspects of your injuries.
According to the pain and suffering settlement examples in Georgia listed on this page, the typical accident settlement is anywhere from $100,000 to $2,250,000. We’ve also seen settlements go for $11 million or more. Settlements depend greatly on the unique circumstances of each case, which is why there is no accurate average pain and suffering settlement amount in Georgia.
Pain and Suffering Settlement Amount Examples in Georgia from Kalka Law Firm
The following examples are actual cases that were settled by the expert legal team at the Kalka Law Firm. Some of these may include emotional distress settlement amounts in Georgia.
Georgia Pain and Suffering Settlement Amount: $2,250,000 – Charter Bus Accident With Severe Injuries
While traveling southbound on I-75 in Marietta, our client was involved in a multi-vehicle accident caused by a charter bus that failed to notice slowing traffic. The collision resulted in severe injuries to our client’s neck, back, and ankle, necessitating cervical and lumbar spine fusions and preventing him from returning to work. Attorney Kalka’s thorough investigation revealed that the bus company had a history of safety violations, which played a role in the accident. Despite the company’s denial of responsibility, Attorney Kalka successfully negotiated a $2.25 million settlement to compensate our client for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of consortium for his wife.
Georgia Pain & Suffering Settlement Amount: $1,000,000 – Truck Driver Negligence Leads to Severe Facial Fractures
On I-85, a tow truck driver attempted to make a U-turn from the center lane under a bridge. This U-turn was illegal and led to a collision with our client’s vehicle in the far left lane. Unable to complete the turn in time, the tow truck struck the back of our client’s car, causing it to overturn onto the median. Our client sustained significant injuries, including facial fractures, a broken jaw, multiple lost teeth, and required reconstructive surgery.
The tow truck company’s insurance initially denied liability, claiming the driver used emergency lights and signaled the turn. However, Attorneys Tony Kalka and Matthew Broun of The Kalka Law Group investigated and discovered the lights were aftermarket and non-compliant with regulations. They argued that this negligence contributed to the accident and ultimately secured a $1 million settlement for our client. This settlement covered past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other associated costs.
Georgia Pain and Suffering Settlement Amount: $1,000,000 – Neck, Back and Shoulder Injuries caused by Negligent Driver Accident
In a January 2015 car accident, our client was rear-ended by a negligent driver, resulting in injuries to her neck, back, and shoulders. While initially treated with pain medication and released from the hospital, her symptoms persisted. She subsequently sought further care from a chiropractor and a spinal wellness center.
Attorney Broun diligently pursued a legal strategy that secured a $100,000 settlement for his client. This settlement compensated her for past and future medical expenses, the pain and suffering she endured, and additional punitive damages awarded due to the driver’s negligence.
Georgia Pain and Suffering Settlement Amount: $100,000 – Rear-End Accident Results in Serious Ankle Injuries
While riding as a passenger in a car turning left into a driveway on Flat Shoals Road in Dekalb County, our client was involved in a sudden rear-end collision. The driver of the other vehicle had been following too closely and was not focused on the road, leading to the impact. The passenger sustained a significant ankle injury, necessitating reconstructive surgery. Attorney Owings of The Kalka Law Group recognized the other driver’s negligence and successfully recovered a $100,000 settlement to cover the costs of pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and other related damages.
Georgia Pain and Suffering Settlement Amount: $100,000 – Motorcyclist Suffers Multiple Fractures Due to Side Swipe Accident
Attorney Owings of The Kalka Law Group represented a motorcyclist who was significantly injured when another driver improperly changed lanes, causing a collision. The motorcyclist sustained multiple injuries, including abrasions, broken ribs, a fractured scapula, and a left femoral fracture requiring invasive surgery. This surgery resulted in a permanent limp and limitations on his ability to perform certain activities. Attorney Owings successfully demonstrated the other driver’s fault through accident reconstruction, expert witness testimony, and overhead drone footage. She recovered a $100,000 settlement for her client to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages, aiming to mitigate the financial and personal impact of the accident.
Georgia Pain and Suffering Settlement Amount: $350,000 – Serious Neck & Back Injuries from Rear-End Accident
While driving north on Highway 211, our client prepared to turn left onto Dee Kennedy Road. She was in the far left lane when her vehicle was struck from behind by another car. An investigation determined that the other driver had been following too closely and was unable to stop in time, resulting in fault being assigned to them.
Following the collision, our client experienced significant neck and back pain. This required multiple medical consultations, including specialists, and ultimately led to two surgeries to address the persistent pain. The Kalka Law Group accepted the case and, through careful analysis of police reports and other evidence, was able to establish the other driver’s responsibility for the rear-end accident.
Their efforts resulted in a $350,000 settlement for our client, which will cover her past, present, and anticipated future medical expenses, as well as provide compensation for the pain and suffering she has endured as a result of her injuries.
Georgia Pain & Suffering Settlement Amount: $199,000 – Pedestrian Suffers Fractures After Being Hit by MARTA Bus
Walking through a marked crosswalk, our client’s life took a sudden turn. A MARTA bus, failing to yield the right of way, turned directly into her path, causing a collision that resulted in brief unconsciousness. She was quickly taken to the hospital, where she remained for five days undergoing thorough medical examinations, including scans, which revealed multiple fractures near her neck and pelvis.
The road to recovery was challenging and lengthy. Intensive physical therapy, occupational therapy, and home healthcare became a necessary part of her daily routine. Determined to see her client through this difficult time, The Kalka Law Group meticulously investigated the incident, gathering witness statements, police reports, and crucial footage from the bus’s surveillance system. This evidence played a crucial role in establishing clear fault with the bus driver.
Through dedicated mediation with MARTA, we were able to secure a settlement of $199,000. This compensation will help address the financial burden of her medical expenses, lost income, and the ongoing pain and suffering caused by this unfortunate accident.
Georgia Pain & Suffering Settlement Amount: $350,000 – Driver Injured in Head-On Collision
While our client was driving through an intersection, with all the lights and signals giving her the right of way, another reckless driver ignored these signals and began making a left-hand turn in the intersection. This resulted in a head-on collision with our client’s vehicle with such force that it caused her car to be thrown into another care on the other opposite side of the street. Immediately after the crash, our client was transported to the nearest hospital for care. She suffered several severe fractures, contusions in her clavicle and knee, and extreme pain. Our Atlanta personal injury lawyers negotiated on behalf of our client with the insurance company and secured a $350,000 settlement to cover not only her medical expenses, but also her lost income, emotional pain and suffering, and other associated costs.
How Do You Quantify Pain And Suffering in Georgia?
“Pain and suffering” is one of the many different types of damages that accident victims can claim after they are wrongfully injured. Unlike with medical expenses and lost wages, one cannot simply look at hospital bills or at documentation of the victim’s annual income to determine how much pain and suffering a victim endured.
When it comes down to it, only the victim truly knows the extent of the physical pain and mental anguish that resulted from his or her injuries. There are, however, various factors that are commonly used to assess the level of pain and suffering in personal injury cases. These include the following:
- The type and extent of treatment required (for example, an injury that leads to multiple surgeries will likely be thought to have a higher level of pain and suffering)
- The duration of the victim’s recovery time
- For mental anguish, the extent to which the injury changed the victim’s way of life (such as when a victim becomes paralyzed and is no longer able to care for himself or herself)
While a physician can observe a victim’s symptoms and condition to make an assessment of the victim’s pain level, even this is really nothing more than an educated guess—especially since each person has a different threshold for tolerating pain. In many cases, the extent of the victim’s pain and suffering is unfairly minimized by the insurance company or the at-fault party’s lawyers. This often happens in cases where the injuries are less visible, such as when the victim suffers from soft-tissue injuries or from psychological trauma.
You should not move forward with a personal injury claim or lawsuit without a skilled lawyer who can help you pursue fair compensation for the pain and suffering (and other damages) you experienced. Your attorney may be able to strengthen your claim through evidence such as pictures of your injuries, your medical records, documentation of your prescriptions and medication purchases, testimony from medical experts and so on.
Does Georgia Have A Cap On Settlement Amounts for Pain and Suffering?
No, Georgia does not have a cap on pain and suffering in personal injury cases. This means that settlement can include any amount of pain and suffering, or a jury or judge is free to award any amount of compensation they deem appropriate for the physical and emotional distress caused by the injury.
What Is Covered In Pain And Suffering Settlements in Georgia?
“Pain and suffering” is a broad term that encompasses both physical and emotional distress caused by an injury or event. It can cover a wide range of experiences, making it difficult to provide a single, all-encompassing answer. However, I can offer some general insights:
Physical Pain:
This refers to the direct, sensory experience of pain caused by tissue damage or illness. It can range from mild discomfort to excruciating agony, depending on the severity and nature of the injury. Examples include, but are not limited to headaches, back pain, burns, broken bones, and nerve damage.
Emotional Distress Settlement Amounts / Mental Anguish Settlement Amounts:
This refers to the emotional and psychological distress associated with the injury or event. It can include anxiety, depression, fear, grief, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and loss of enjoyment of life. The mental trauma can be caused by the pain itself, the fear of what happened, the limitations the injury creates, or the impact on personal relationships.
Additional Aspects of Pain & Suffering in Georgia:
Pain and suffering can also encompass the disruption to daily life caused by the injury. This might include loss of work, difficulty performing everyday tasks, and reduced ability to participate in activities one used to enjoy.
In some cases, pain and suffering can also include the medical treatment required to address the injury, as well as the potential for long-term consequences or permanent disability.
Ultimately, the specific experiences covered under “pain and suffering” will vary depending on the individual and the circumstances of their injury or event. It’s important to remember that pain and suffering are subjective experiences, and what one person finds distressing may not be as impactful for another.
Don’t Get Tricked by Insurance Companies on Pain & Suffering Settlement Amounts in Georgia
At The Kalka Law Group, we have personal injury attorneys in Georgia who are familiar with the tricks insurance companies pull when it comes to these types of damages. It is our goal to ensure that you are properly restored by the at-fault party’s insurance company for the physical and mental turmoil you went through. You don’t pay unless we win. 100% free consultation. Call 24/7 at (404) 529-9371 or email us!
Understanding your rights and navigating the complexities of an accident settlement in Georgia can be overwhelming. However, you don’t have to face it alone. The Kalka Law Group specializes in these types of cases and offers free case evaluations to help you understand your options. Our proven track record in securing substantial settlements demonstrates their deep understanding of Georgia’s motor vehicle accident and personal injury claims. The Kalka Law Group is your trusted partner in navigating the legal intricacies surrounding your accident settlement.
