Posted in Personal Injury on May 20, 2026
California does not have a specific, legally based formula for calculating pain and suffering in a Long Beach personal injury claim. The court and insurance companies will use one of several methods to calculate loss, typically the multiplier or per diem method. The Multiplier Method multiples your economic damage value by a factor of 1 to 5 based on the severity of your loss. The per diem method applies a specific dollar value for each day you are expected to have suffered.
What Are Pain and Suffering Losses?
Pain and suffering refer to non-economic losses you suffered as a result of a personal injury claim. California law allows victims to seek compensation for these intangible, more subjective types of claims. However, a value must be sought that is in line with other recoveries of damages like yours that others received.
How the Multiplier Method in a California Pain and Suffering Claim Is Calculated
The multiplier method is a common method for calculating pain and suffering for those with ongoing losses. In this method, the court or insurance agent will determine what your economic losses are. They add up all of your medical bills, lost wages, and property damages. They then apply a factor between 1 and 5 to that figure.
If you have serious injuries and lifelong complications, they may apply a factor of 5 to this figure. If you have minor injuries and expect a full recovery, you may see a factor of 1.5 or 2 applied for non-economic losses.
Here is an example. If you have $20,000 worth of medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, and your case involves a moderate level of suffering or pain, the court may apply a factor of 3 to this. That means you would receive $60,000 in pain and suffering on top of the $20,000 in economic damages paid to you.
How the Per Diem Method in a California Pain and Suffering Claim Is Calculated
The per diem, or per day, method for calculating pain and suffering assigns a specific dollar value to your suffering. In this method, you will have a dollar amount assigned that effectively equals the amount of suffering you experience in a day. This may be assigned based on numerous factors, including the severity of your injuries or the lost wages you experienced per day.
For example, if you suffer an injury that causes moderate injury and pain, the court may assign a per diem value of $200 per day. If you experience 100 days of pain and suffering, that means you would recover $20,000 in pain and suffering damages.
This is a more challenging method of calculation. It will be very important for you to document all of the ways you suffered during this timeframe. That includes evidence that demonstrates the way it interferes with your life or how much suffering you experienced.
Speak to a Personal Injury Lawyer in Every Case
Every case requires its own specific calculation process. Working with a personal injury attorney in California may help you seek more accurate representation for your pain and suffering. Of course, every person’s interpretation of these losses is different. For that reason, it is important to speak to an attorney who is willing to document the extent of your losses. Contact us.