One of the central pieces of a case for an injured client is the reparations from the defendant for the client’s pain and suffering. Even though the defendant, or the defendant’s insurance company, compensates for medical bills and other economic damages, there’s always the component of the loss of enjoyment of a client’s life which stemmed from their injuries.
To determine the average amounts of pain and suffering given to a client in conjunction with the average amount of economic damages they received, we analyzed 665 cases which specified pain and suffering amounts and other economic damages amounts from 37 different case topics. These topics ranged from physical injuries such as a broken femur or amputated leg to psychological issues incurred by rape or racial discrimination. Through this analysis, we determined the average amount of economic damages awarded and the average amount of pain and suffering awarded for injuries caused by racial discrimination, rape, and sexual harassment.
In cases where a plaintiff is racially discriminated against by an employer, we found an average award for economic damages of $373,860 and an average award for pain and suffering of $81,866.67. Our calculations showed that the average award for economic damages equated to approximately 456.67% of the award for pain and suffering (Fig. 1). The average award amount for pain and suffering showed a 78.10% decrease from the award for economic damages.
Figure 1. This figure shows the percentage of economic damages awards in relation to pain and suffering compensation. The blue band represents the 456.67% of the total amount of pain and suffering, which is in orange.
Rape cases showed an average award of economic damages of $97,507.28 and an average compensatory award for pain and suffering of $1,146,292.86. The average award for economic damages equated to approximately 8.51% of the average award for pain and suffering, and pain and suffering showed a 1,075.60% increase from the average total award for economic damages (Fig. 2).
Figure 2. This figure shows the percentage of economic damages awards in relation to pain and suffering compensation. The blue band at the bottom represents the 8.51% of the total amount of pain and suffering, which is in orange.
Sexual harassment cases showed a trend similar to rape cases. In sexual harassment cases, we saw an average total award of economic damages of $48,236.31 and an average compensatory award if $565,278.64 for pain and suffering. The average award for economic damages equated to 8.53% of the total compensatory award for pain and suffering; the award for pain and suffering showed a 1,071.89% increase from the award of the average total amount of economic damages (Fig. 3).
Figure 3. This figure shows the percentage of economic damages awards in relation to pain and suffering compensation. The blue band at the bottom represents the 8.53% of the total amount of pain and suffering, which is in orange.
If you’re a potential client or an attorney seeking a second opinion and would like to discuss the value of your case, please feel free to call us anytime at (850)224-3310.
