Following a car accident, plaintiffs can generally sue for monetary damages (such as medical bills, medications, assistive technology, and lost wages), as well as for non-monetary damages, like pain and suffering, which includes . Some states cap the amount of damages that can be awarded in a pain and suffering settlement. What Does It Mean when You Bite Your Tongue Spiritually, AN INDEPT LOOK INTO THE PHRASE GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES IN CHRISTIANITY, Christian Organizations that Help the Poor. or the next hour . One of the counterintuitive truths about suffering is that it prepares Christians for more glory. 1. 1 answer; Social Studies; asked by Kaai97; 518 views; You corrected this sentence: Don't talk about me as ancient: Don't talk about me as if I'm ancient. The original version of this article is found at www.probe.org/the-value-of-suffering/. Pain is based on personal experiences and the severity of a persons injuries. There are as many evils as things that are wanting: an evil, according to its intensity, gives rise to pain, sorrow, depression, disappointment and even desperation; it exists in dispersion but at the same time entails solidarity. Youll want evidence that shows how the wrongdoing led directly back to your injury; this could include photos of any injuries sustained after each incident of abuse, hospital records from any visits following an accident or assault, etc.. We'd love to hear from you, please enter your comments. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Related Topics: Discipleship, Discipline, Sanctification, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Life, Suffering, Trials, Persecution, Women's Articles, Sue Bohlin is a speaker/writer and webservant for Probe Ministries, a Christian organization that helps people to think biblically. As my body weakens from the lifelong impact of polio, to be honest, I have a deep frustration with it that makes me grateful for the perfect, beautiful, completely working resvurrection body waiting for me on the other side. Let us flee from self-righteousness, and toward compassion, as our Lord has compassion upon us ( Psalm 78:37-39 ). There are many other options available besides suing those who have wronged us. Emotional and psychological trauma such as insomnia, fear, depressed mood, and anxiety. ibid.,n. Tertullian said: "Credo quia ineptum".By experiencing relief from evil through suffering, and through that cruelest form of suffering which sums up all imaginable forms of suffering, the Cross, this "ineptum",becomes "aptum",the most just and rational that we can imagine, for it is the only way to experience happiness. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. A week later the wife died, followed in six months by her husband. Sometimes attorneys who cannot take a case themselves have a system in place to refer cases to other attorneys, sometimes for compensation. The Bible speaks of suing and the importance of seeking justice (1 Timothy 6:7), but it does not specifically address this issue. Only by living the mystery of Christian suffering can we get an idea of what suffering means and, as the Pope said previously, transcend it and overcome it. Home Family QAs Get Help Family Q&A Life Changes Q&As Christians and Lawsuits. In addition to individual suffering, there is collective suffering due to human errors and transgressions, especially war. The Lord Jesus has His work cut out for Him in purifying us for Himself (Titus 2:14). Draft a demand letter. The fear that accompanies suffering drives us to the Father like a little kid burying his face in his daddy's leg. All forms of pain and suffering that can be assigned a dollar value counts as economic loss. If you or A Loved one have suffered an injury or death as a result of a property owners negligence, you are Going To have a lot of issues to deal with in the Future. 28). . Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. *** b. a source of wealth to conquer in the name of one's ancestors. The Lord's purpose in both storms was to train them to stop relying on their physical eyes and use their spiritual eyes. Often times, yes. California, for example, limits non-economic damages such as pain and suffering to $250,000 in . The Pope is aware of the difficulty of reasoning in this way and therefore tells us that the reality of suffering in solidarity should only be understood through the Resurrection. Solidarity, as the foundation of the whole of existence, is not only sympathy with all, a way of being socially committed and aware that we all belong to the same race, culture, nationality, etc., but is also the experiencing of a bond with all other human beings so deeply within ourselves that it is not a qualification that comes to us as soon as we exist but constitutes our existence itself. Log in. The hosts in heaven stand amazed when they observe God sustain hurting people with His peace."4. This infinite solidarity is infinite Love, which is the Holy Spirit who has been poured out into our hearts, an infinite Love that is God himself. Determining If You Can Sue for Pain and Suffering Damages. There is no doubt from what is written in the book of Acts that Paul recognized the authority and the responsibility of the government of Rome as well. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. Although it is a little imperfect, attorneys will calculate pain and suffering at 1.5 - 4 times the amount of actual damages (costs of the injury / treatment). A person should try to settle his claim before a lawsuit is filed. As a last resort, God has established the courts as a means of resolving disputes. Let us now try to describe suffering. While our natural reaction to pain is to avoid it, get rid of it, or numb it; we need to realize that God allows pain. But many times, pain and suffering settlements are calculated using one of two formulas used by insurance companies. Many different cultures have their own interpretations of why people suffer. Moreover, those who not only act to help the sick but also to drive away a whole series of evils, those who fight hatred, violence, cruelty and every type of physical and spiritual suffering, belong to the same category as the Good Samaritan. Some do this through their work (doctors, nurses, engineers, plumbers, and so on). Pain and suffering is a legal term that refers to the physical and mental distress suffered by a person as a result of an injury. In contrast to cold objectivity, however, it is something that indeed belongs to the objectivity of our being, but with the maximum loving subjectivity, since it is and depends upon our free will in such a way that we can accept or reject it. Suffering prepares us for more glory. Two people can be involved in the same accident and suffer the same injuries, but one person may suffer more emotional trauma than the other. There is no such thing as pointless pain in the life of the child of God. Is it right to take another person to court if you think they have done something wrong? If your car being totaled resulted in a more catastrophic physical injury, it is likely that your settlement will be larger because of that even if pain and suffering is not explicitly mentioned. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:4 that God comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.. It may well be about other people, preparing you to minister comfort and hope to someone in your future who will need what you can give them because of what you're going through right now. Ohio limits non-economic damages in all torts to $250,000 or three times economic damages, capped at $350,000 for a single plaintiff or $500,000 total if there are multiple plaintiffs. He never lost consciousness in the ambulance because he was too busy praying prayers of thanksgiving for his survival. Lewis seemed to have a good grasp on this. Tada, 118. Suffering teaches us the difference between the important and the transient. To respond, the Pope leaves the areaof enigma and moves on to that of mystery. Thus, suffering involves solidarity (cf. This reality is a stark reminder that we have not reached the new heavens and new earth. The etymological root of the word helps us understand something about it: "mystery" derives from the Greek "M" or "M", which means closing the eyes, not in the sense of going about blind, but of closing the eyes if they are dazzled, such as occurs, for instance, when we look directly at the sun. Basically the majority of christians see god and Satan as equal or mostly equal figures fighting for the souls of humans rather than the actual biblical relationship between them of Satan being a tool god uses to test the faith and morality if humans. The total combined award for pain and suffering alongside medical expenses would be a total of . Attorneys experienced in personal injury law know how to present a lawsuit that results in negotiation instead of litigation. It is called "cross" and "resurrection". We need to be reminded that we are living in "Plan B." As we read in Proverbs, we are warned not to bring a matter to a court hastily. The first glimpse of suffering we see in this church here is that something is threatening to make them "grow weary and lose heart." It is normal for Christians to have experiences of stress and suffering that threaten their faith and press too hard, or last too long and feel almost intolerable. This means that "pain and suffering" compensation is not intended to compensate for a specific monetary loss, such as a medical bill and lost wages. Depending on the issue, you may have strong opinions about it. Suffering gives rise to love for those who suffer, a disinterested love to help them by relieving it. Chambers, June 25. Documenting time spent addressing an injury and its side effects also is important. But developing holiness in us is a worthwhile, extremely important goal for the Holy One who is our divine Bridegroom. Obviously, if a Christian is suing you, it would be preferable to work out some kind of arbitration, as described above. He allows us to experience storms in our lives for the same purpose: to learn to depend on God. As well as striking the blow, the man was also responsible for seeing to it that the injured man was fully healed after the blow was struck. 2. But even medicine is a gift from God where man tested God's creation and created medications that would help our fallen, human bodies. One of my dearest friends shared with me the prayer from a heart burning with emotional pain: "Papa, I know I can make it through the next fifteen minutes if You hold me and walk me through it." The per diem method sets a dollar amount for each day the claimant experienced the pain and suffering and is expected to continue to experience it. As the saying goes, Everything is lawful, but not everything is edifying (1 Corinthians 10:23). And Romans 5:3-4 tells us that we can actually rejoice in our sufferings, because, again, they produce perseverance, which produces character, which produces hope. 9:10, May 1, 1995, 1. (Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, 166). Suffering conforms us into God's . To enter into the mystery, let us be guided by God himself. Karen told Sue she knew of a Christian counselor who did therapy at a reduced rate. 1:4) because we have experienced the reality of the Holy Spirit being there for us, walking alongside us in our pain. There are several kinds of personal injury suits, all of which can result in pain and suffering settlements. Being cut off from good is an evil. Pain is inevitable because we live in a fallen world. Deep suffering of the soul is also a taste of hell. Focus on the Familys counselors would be happy to listen to your concerns and come alongside you with some practical suggestions. The Bible tells us that the world is at enmity with God and at enmity with Christians. Only by experiencing the mystery can we penetrate it with our minds. And neither does it mean that Scripture doesnt tell us how to think about our suffering now. Jesus wants not just a pure bride, but a mature one as welland suffering produces growth and maturity in us. We naturally try to avoid suffering at all costs. The one thing you should, however, do before making a decision is stop and ask yourself: Is what I think based on the Bible? "5 The reality of God's power, His love, and His character are made very, very real to a watching world when we trust Him in our pain. The definition is vague, but the law allows you to file an insurance claim for pain and suffering compensation. Trials are nothing . Feeling isolated is one of the hardest parts of suffering. 3 attorney answers. The meaning of suffering is to do good by one's suffering and to do good to those who suffer (cf, ibid.,n.30). Mental Pain and Suffering. If we turn toward God in our pain, He can use our suffering to mature our faith. If this doesnt work, and if a lawsuit seems warranted, you should get the counsel of a Christian attorney who is in a position to supplement his legal expertise with wisdom drawn from the Bible. Articles and answers on lots of topics at Probe.org. How this has encouraged and strengthened me in the valleys of suffering and pain! There is no such thing as pointless pain in the life of the child of God. It is the very reason why Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to standards of this . 1 Thessalonians 3:3 reminds us that we are "destined for trials." Evil is not a positive entity but a privation. Pain and suffering are subjective in nature. To get the best possible experience please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge to view this website. . You might be using an unsupported or outdated browser. Pain and suffering is a type of non-economic damage that the victim has suffered. Something went wrong. It can also be helpful to keep a journal documenting your emotional suffering. Our primary objective, however, should be to resolve the matter without bringing a lawsuit to court. The multiplier method totals all the plaintiffs medical bills from the injury and multiplies that total by a number between 1.5 and 5. One first needs to frame the enigma correctly and begin to seek its cause. Suffering reminds us that we live in an abnormal world. Those who have suffered tend not to judge others experiencing similar suffering. Since it originates in privation, the inevitable question is: "Why did this deprivation occur, what is its cause?". Prior to filing a lawsuit, a person should attempt to settle his claim before he files a lawsuit. I am not aware of any biblical restrictions regarding the right of a person to sue a corporation. You cannot sue a doctor you overheard giving medical advice in a social setting. A doctor-patient relationship exists. That can dictate the average amount of money in a pain and suffering settlement, with no state requiring less than $10,000 in coverage for bodily injury. You may think that suing for pain and suffering will help pay some of these billsbut if your goal is actually helping another person in need (and thus following Gods command), then perhaps there are other ways that you could stretch your finances further in order to assist them with their needs or show mercy through giving charity rather than demanding payment for wrongdoing after receiving justice according*to Biblical principles.*. Lawyer directory. Like Mary in the example above, your pain and suffering may consist mostly of economic losses such as: Cost of medical care ibid.,10). When a brother sins against you, Jesus says that you are to tell him his fault in front of just the two of you if he sins against you. The multiplier is chosen depending on factors such as: For example, if a person is involved in a car accident and suffers whiplash, a concussion, and a broken arm, their medical bills could total $5,000. It is victory over death. By Rick Warren. After hearing their testimonies, few would deny that suffering produces beauty and maturity of spirit. We keep wanting to go our own way, pretending that we are God. I Believe This is especially true if you are a Christian. The Bible speaks of suing and the importance of seeking justice (1 Timothy 6:7), but it does not specifically address this issue. Our understanding of the inevitability of suffering does not mean that we should regard it with complacency. The problem of pain and suffering has perplexed humanity since the fall of man, and for good reason. In addition to physical pain, plaintiffs can recover for the permanent physical . Saving all evidence such as medical bills and other expenses associated with the injury is imperative. From our solidarity with the essence of life which is the Risen Christ, we can understand our loving solidarity with Christ suffering on the Cross; just as the Risen Christ includes in his Resurrection the resurrection of humanity, of each and every one of us, so too the suffering of Christ contains the suffering and pain of each and every one of us. He notes from the outset that a misunderstanding of suffering can actually lead to the denial of God. In Exodus 21:18-19, money damages are allowed for wages lost and medical care (Exodus 21:18-19), for pain and suffering (Exodus 21:22), and for the permanent impairment of a body part (Exodus 21:27).. It was the most horrible suffering we've ever known. She loves teaching women and laughing, and if those two can be combined, all the better. How to Ask for An Unspoken Prayer Request on Facebook? For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.. Let's face it, left to ourselves we are a dirty, messy, fleshly people, and we desperately need to be made pure. In fact, a Johns Hopkins study found that medical errors kill more than 250,000 Americans every year, making it the third-leading cause of death behind only heart disease and cancer. Sometimes an attorneys reputation can help as much as the facts of the case, but it is important to discuss compensation and consider the scale of your claims and possible payout when deciding who to hire. It depends upon whether you signed a valid binding arb agreement, that may have been given to you when you enrolled. ibid.,n, 16}. There are several references in the Bible to compensating a person for a loss they have suffered. One of the effects of suffering is to loosen our grasp on this life, because we shouldn't be thinking that life in a fallen world is as wonderful as we sometimes think it is. Special (pain and suffering) damages: $10,000 ($5,000 x 2) Total: $15,000. The lack of meaning, the lack of direction, the radical anticulture, contradiction, death: in a fullness of meaning, of orientation, in an ascendant culture, in joyous affirmation, in life: folly and stupidity, in what is wisest and most sensible, it is the intimate solidarity of love triumphant that raises, in loving solidarity with the most atrocious suffering that kills. Alice Curtis August 6, 2001. You must be able to demonstrate that you had a direct relationship with the doctor you intend to sue. Paul means that the court system exists for matters of this life that are outside the church. It further affirms that suffering is a punishment inflicted for self-correction, since good follows evil, leading to conversion and to rebuilding goodness (cf. Deep suffering of the soul is also a taste of hell. However, each case is unique and the severity of injury and factors involved in that specific case will impact the settlement amount offered. 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