How Are Pain and Suffering Damages Calculated in Nevada?

• April 14 2025
• |   Personal Injury

The aftermath of an accident can be very tough. As a victim, not only do you have to deal with financial burdens like medical bills and lost wages, but you might also experience physical and emotional stress that cannot be measured in terms of money. There are two major types of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are easy to measure; they include medical bills, lost wages, damaged properties, and any other type of loss with monetary value. Then, there are non-economic damages, like the physical pain or emotional stress caused by an accident, often called pain and suffering. This then brings us to a question: If you were involved in an accident in Nevada, how would your pain and suffering damages be calculated?

In Nevada, determining the compensation you can get for pain and suffering damages can be complex. You will need the help of well-experienced and highly skilled lawyers. This is where we come in. At Leverty & Associates Law, we help our clients understand the legal process involved and work to make sure clients get the full amount they deserve. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident in Nevada, contact us today for a free consultation. We are here to guide you every step of the way.

Why You Should Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer From Leverty & Associates Law

At Leverty & Associates Law, we have lawyers who understand how challenging life can be after an accident. Our legal team is dedicated to fighting for your rights and ensuring you receive full compensation, not just for the economic damages but also for the damages that cannot be easily measured. With more than 50 years of experience in personal injury law, we deeply understand Nevada laws and how to present evidence effectively.

We are committed to getting you the justice you deserve. Our lawyers will work tirelessly, represent you aggressively, and ensure that no aspect of your injury is overlooked. We will prioritize your case, so you can rest assured that it is in good hands. Contact us at (775) 322-6636 to learn how we can help you.

We have successfully handled numerous personal injury cases in Nevada and can handle yours, too.

What Are Pain and Suffering Damages?

Pain and suffering damages are a way to compensate for the extra burden you might face that is not measured with a bill. These types of damages include:

• Physical Pain: This includes the discomfort and bodily pain you feel from the injury you sustained from the accident and any subsequent treatment you will need.
• Emotional Distress: After an accident, you might start having feelings like anxiety, depression, or fear.
• Loss of Enjoyment: This is when the injuries you sustained from the accident stop you from enjoying everyday activities or hobbies you used to enjoy.
• Permanent Changes: This includes long-lasting effects like scarring or disability that can change your life over the long term.

How Are Pain and Suffering Damages Calculated in Nevada?

Unlike economic damages like medical bills and lost wages, pain and suffering have no price tag. Courts, lawyers, and insurance companies often use one of the following methods to decide how much you deserve:

The Multiplier Method

The multiplier method starts by adding up the victim’s economic damages, which include medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Once these costs have been computed, a multiplier is chosen (usually a number between 1.5 and 5) based on how serious your injury is. The more severe and life-changing the injury, the higher the multiplier.

The final calculation looks like this:

Pain and Suffering Compensation = Economic Damages × Multiplier

The multiplier is not the same for everyone. It depends on the following factors:

• The severity of the injury
• How long recovery takes
• Permanent damage
• How the injury affects daily life
• The responsible party.

Example: Imagine you were injured in a car accident and your total economic damages are $20,000. An insurance company might use a multiplier of 3 if your injuries are moderate. It will be calculated this way: 20,000 × 3 = 60,000

So, your pain and suffering compensation would be $60,000. When added to the $20,000 in financial losses, your total compensation would be $80,000.

The Per Diem Method

The Per Diem Method is calculated by assigning a daily dollar amount for each day you experience pain due to the injury you sustained. This daily amount is multiplied by the days it will take you to recover or reach the point where your condition will not improve any further, even with treatment. Although there isn’t a fixed rule for setting this daily rate, it is often based on the following:

• The injured person’s daily wage
• A fair estimate of suffering
• Medical expert opinions.

Example: Imagine someone gets hurt in a car accident, breaks their leg, and takes 120 days to recover. If they usually earn $200 per day, their lawyer may argue that their pain and suffering should also be valued at $200 per day. Using the Per Diem Method, the total pain and suffering damages would be: $200 × 120 days = $24,000.

This amount would be added to the compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to the accident.

We will fight for your rights and ensure you get maximum compensation.

How Pain and Suffering Is Determined in a Wrongful Death

In a wrongful death case, the compensation for pain and suffering is determined by looking at how much the loss of the victim has affected the surviving family members emotionally. It includes evaluating the deep grief, loss of consortium, and the overall impact on their day-to-day lives. The court will also consider factors like how close the relationship was with the person who died, the age of the deceased, and the circumstances of their passing. They will try to put a value on the emotional pain and the life-changing experience that will be felt by the loved ones left behind.

Get Help From Leverty & Associates Law

At Leverty & Associates Law, our attorneys have dedicated their careers and knowledge to helping clients who need legal guidance, support, and assistance. We have helped many clients achieve legal goals specific to their cases and can help you, too. Our services are on a contingency fee basis, so you do not have to pay us until we secure a favorable outcome. Call us at (775) 322-6636 for a free consultation.