How Is Chronic Pain Defined and Who Can Seek Compensation?
Chronic pain is one of the most common and misunderstood consequences of an accident. While fractures, lacerations, and visible trauma are easier to document, ongoing pain that persists long after the initial injury can be far more disruptive to daily life.
For individuals pursuing a personal injury claim, understanding how chronic pain is defined is essential to securing the recovery needed to move forward. A Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer can share with you who qualifies for compensation and what kind of evidence is required.
Pain for 12 Weeks or Longer
In many situations, chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts longer than the expected healing period, often for 12 weeks or more. It may stem from an identifiable injury, such as soft-tissue damage, nerve disruption, or musculoskeletal trauma, but it can also persist even after scans or tests fail to reveal a clear structural cause. Chronic pain can also contribute to secondary issues such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, and reduced ability to work.
When it comes to personal injury cases, chronic pain is a compensable harm. Individuals who can demonstrate that their pain was caused by another party’s negligence may be eligible to receive recovery funds. Compensation can cover a range of losses. The key is being able to show a clear link between the accident and the persistent pain.
Florida law does not require an injury to be catastrophic to justify compensation, but it does require credible evidence. A physician, chiropractor, neurologist, or pain specialist may provide records showing the nature of the pain, its impact, and the treatments prescribed. Imaging studies, clinical notes, functional capacity evaluations, and testimony from treating providers can all strengthen a claim. Expert witnesses may also be used to explain how the accident triggered the long-term symptoms.
Even victims of seemingly minor collisions or slip-and-fall incidents may later develop persistent symptoms. Soft-tissue injuries, including whiplash, are particularly known for causing prolonged discomfort. What matters legally is not how dramatic the accident appears but whether the evidence supports the pain’s connection to the event.
Reach Out and Connect with Professional Support
If you are experiencing ongoing pain after an accident, it is essential to seek medical care promptly and consistently. Delaying treatment may make it harder to prove the cause of your symptoms, and gaps in care can be used by insurers to argue that the pain is unrelated or exaggerated. Tracking how the pain affects your daily life and following your provider’s recommendations are steps that protect both your health and your legal claim, too.
A Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer can help you understand your rights, gather the necessary documentation, and pursue the compensation you need. You do not have to navigate the process alone.
Was it surprising to you that an insurance representative pushed back on your need for pain support? Chronic pain following an accident in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Stuart, or Vero Beach is real, disruptive, and deserving of recognition within the legal system. Call 561-660-9421 to schedule a confidential consultation with the attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez.
