Legal Question in Personal Injury in California
What is the industry standard in asking for pain and suffering after an auto accident? I know years ago it used to be 3x the medical bills. This was a minor accident and my daughters medical bills were $900 and she is fine. The other sides auto insurance company has asked us for an amount to settle for the pain and suffering.
3 Answers from Attorneys
There is no industry standard. People ask for a figure, and then settle for whatever number they agree on.
You have to start somewhere.Based on the figures you gave and the statement that your daughter is fine I would demand $4500 and let them counter.
This is no standard ratio. Damages for pain and suffering are just that -- they are intended to compensate the plaintiff for the amount of pain and suffering she endured. How much a particular plaintiff suffers has nothing to do with how much she incurs in medical bills.