There are several kinds of personal injury suits, all of which can result in pain and suffering settlements. My friend Pete buried his wife a few years ago after a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. Suffering is in our lives because we are living in a broken world. As for evil, it is a deprivation; it has no positive value in itself and therefore cannot be a positive cause or principle, for its origin is a mere privation. There is no such thing as pointless pain in the life of the child of God. They will know if it really would glorify God or not. Because damages for "pain and suffering" are subjective and can be extremely different in each case, settlements and jury verdicts for these damages can be unpredictable. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" ( Revelation 21:4 ). Pain is based on personal experiences and the severity of a persons injuries. Often, legal counsels will recommend that you file a lawsuit against your insurance company for loss as well as punitive damages. The type varies - it may be physical, relational, mental, emotional, financial, social, or spiritual - but it all hurts. We see this biblical truth illustrated through the persecuted church. In this essay I'll be discussing the value of suffering, an unhappy non-negotiable of life in a fallen world. The multiplier method totals all the plaintiffs medical bills from the injury and multiplies that total by a number between 1.5 and 5. Pope John Paul II does not conceal the fact that suffering is something complex, enigmatic and intangible that must be treated with full respect and compassion and even with awe; but this does not justify the attempt to understand it, since only in this way will it be possible to come to terms with it. When someone is injured by another person or business, there are two ways to approach the situation: suing or forgiving. The whole context of 1 Corinthians 6:1-6 deals with disputes in the church, but Paul does reference the court system when he speaks of judgments concerning things pertaining to this life. Having been falsely arrested, he used the application of Roman law to be able to regain his freedom once he had been falsely incarcerated. It is thought that one of the reasons that medical insurance is so expensive is that there are so many people who sue for things that were never under anyones control or were not caused by one individuals negligence in the first place. Our culture disdains weakness, but our frailty is a sign of God's workmanship in us. 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. depression. . It is victory over death. C.S. 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. It can also be helpful to keep a journal documenting your emotional suffering. He never lost consciousness in the ambulance because he was too busy praying prayers of thanksgiving for his survival. Let's face it, left to ourselves we are a dirty, messy, fleshly people, and we desperately need to be made pure. It's difficult to put a value on a person's mental and emotional well-being because it's purely subjective. God causes far more pain and suffering than . There's another aspect of bringing comfort to those in pain. 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." According to 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, lawsuits against believers are not permitted. 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. Some survivors, like Sue, wonder how there could be a God who would allow an innocent child to endure such pain and suffering, and others see no meaning or purpose in life. If you can see the purpose behind the pain, you can find the way out of this lie. If you believe you or someone you love were the victim of medical malpractice, contact Morgan & Morgan. There is no easy answer to this question. But after three long years of holding on, during a visit from Cheryl's pastor, the wife trusted Christ on her deathbed and the husband received assurance of his salvation. The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. How To Find The Cheapest Travel Insurance, Average Pain and Suffering Settlement Examples, How to Get a Pain and Suffering Settlement, Assumption Of Risk In Personal Injury Claims, Intentional infliction of emotional distress, Type of accident or situation that caused the injury, Severity of the injuries and the pain involved, Impact on the persons job and relationships, Whether the plaintiff bears any fault for the accident. The following is a translation from Italian of excerpts of the Cardinal's lecture. Visit Probe's website. Suffering is a product of the fall, a consequence of human sin against God (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21). In fact, in the Book of Job and someother Books of the Old Testament the answer is that the cause of evil the transgression of the natural order created by God. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992), 122. The Bible speaks of suing and the importance of seeking justice (1 Timothy 6:7), but it does not specifically address this issue. The average payout for an injury from a car accident is $23,234 according to the Insurance Information Institute. Almost everyone is living with some kind of pain. He not only teaches those we rub shoulders with every day, but He instructs the countless millions of angels and demons. Paul said he delighted in weaknesses, hardships, and difficulties "for when I am weak, then I am strong.". Many Christians only know they're saved without grasping what it is Christ has delivered them from. Can a person sue for pain and suffering? a. a place of unending suffering and pain. The expense in terms of time, money and emotional outlay usually offsets any potential financial gain that might be expected from the case. The Bible doesnt whitewash our experience of suffering by saying that its all of one stripe. The apostle Paul wrote, We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:89). Both women are out of work for a month before being released from a doctor's care. 3. Get Your Free Consultation From a Lawyer Near You. But many times, pain and suffering settlements are calculated using one of two formulas used by insurance companies. Rather, the disputed matter should be arbitrated or judged by a wise Christian or Christians. Some do this through their work (doctors, nurses, engineers, plumbers, and so on). Those who suffer tend to have tender hearts toward others who are in pain. Is it right to take another person to court if you think they have done something wrong? But what about lawsuits between Christians and non-Christians? While I Believe that the bible does not directly state that Christians Are to hold corporations and wrongdoers accountable on behalf of others, it is consistent with the focus on justice that scripture places on the law to hold that View. They were persecuted, treated maliciously, and even killed. Reading Time: 8 minutes By Mark W. Hamilton The Bible helps us answer the question. Alice Curtis August 6, 2001. This market value on pain and suffering established by similar cases is a starting point from which lawyers operate. New York, meanwhile, has no caps on any damages, economic, non-economic or punitive. This gift of solidarity is the meaning of the Incarnation and the meaning of Jesus Christ. Find the best ones near you. Rhonda is an executive secretary earning $24 per hour. We naturally try to avoid suffering at all costs. Our primary objective, however, should be to resolve the matter without bringing a lawsuit to court. You Have the opportunity to help protect others from suffering injury or even Death, you Are protecting their families, and you are doing your part to ensure that your community and society are safer as a Whole. 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. ibid.,10). Something went wrong. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. The mystery of suffering is contained in the mystery of Love, in the mystery of the Spirit. They've lost track of history. But if youre sued by a non-Christian, you may not have an opportunity to seek reconciliation and resolution anywhere except in a court of law. I got facts in Sunday School, but I learned faith through trusting God in difficult circumstances. One of the most powerful words of comfort I received when we were grieving our baby's loss was from a friend who said, "Your pain may not be about just you. What if the person in question is a believer? Obviously, if a Christian is suing you, it would be preferable to work out some kind of arbitration, as described above. In the end, God always judges our attitudes, and just because something is permissible doesnt mean its the right thing to do. Oswald Chambers reminds us that "God has one destined end for mankindholiness. Sue wasn't too sure she wanted to talk to anybody about her life, let alone a . Sin can be eliminated through suffering itself in a very special context of solidarity. You also deserve to be compensated for the emotional pain that . What you are experiencing from God, you can give away in increasing measure to others. Adapted from Complete Guide to Faith-Based Family Finances by Ron Blue. I have an appreciation of heaven gained from a different experience. "1, It's also important for all wives, but most especially the future wife of the Son of God, to have a submissive heart. Please try again later. The Lord's purpose in both storms was to train them to stop relying on their physical eyes and use their spiritual eyes. Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragn, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, gave a lecture in July, in Aachen, Germany, on "Pain, an enigma or a mystery?". Suffering brings a "one day at a time-ness" to our survival. Through all this I've been brought closer to God. For example, if a plaintiff incurs $3,000 in medical bills . Suffering is an expected part of the Christian life. Avvo Rating: 10. How this has encouraged and strengthened me in the valleys of suffering and pain! In Christ the enigma of pain and death is revealed. Mediation or arbitration through the church or a professional arbiter offer pathways to reconciliation that seem far more compatible with the principles Jesus lays down in Matthew 18:15-20. ibid.,n. These verses are like sandpaper on our modern sentiments about suffering. He will give us the comfort, peace, patience and strength we need. The Pope ends by saying that the mystery of man is revealed in Christ, and the mystery of man is very specially connected to suffering. But just as sunlight pours through a window but is blocked by a wall, I discovered that other people could see God's strength and beauty in me because of the window-like nature of my weakness! Should I sue them for my pain and suffering? Jesus said that we should settle with an adversary on the way to court. . Despite this, verses 4 and 5 of that passage suggest that the dispute should be referred to a church member for resolution to resolve the issue. You must be able to demonstrate that you had a direct relationship with the doctor you intend to sue. Applying a biblical worldview to this difficult subject results in a distinctly different approach to suffering than our natural inclination of blame and self pity. If a Christian refuses to have the matter resolved by the church or by a Christian, then you can take him to court if he refuses to resolve the matter through the church or by a Christian. Generally, you must have evidence, like medical testimony, to prove your pain and suffering resulted from the accident you are claiming. It is the very reason why Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to standards of this . Deep suffering of the soul is also a taste of hell. Christians may also face trials and suffer simply because we live in a world full of sin. Suffering has taught my friend the lesson of total, humble dependence on God. And from the Cross, not by virtue of the Cross but by virtue of the Father's omnipotence and the Spirit's solidarity and Love, the Incarnate Word recreates within us the authentic Adam, the man of truth, the model planned by God from all eternity so that we might be authentically human. Let us now try to describe suffering. Marine Corps recruiter Randy Norfleet survived the Oklahoma City bombing despite losing 40 percent of his blood and needing 250 stitches to close his wounds. Your email address will not be published. Judges 4:5. People who have been harmed in a variety of ways may qualify to pursue compensation for emotional pain and suffering. For Christians, it is important to have a Biblical view of why God allows suffering and how we are to go through it. Suffering is a result of the fall. 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. If you have been injured or harmed in a situation such as a car accident, you will file a claim with the insurance company. He redeems all of it for His glory and our blessing. Paul writes, "We know that all things work . He goes on to say: or the next few minutes." There is no such thing as pointless pain in the life of the child of God. If this is your situation, you should keep in mind that, from a practical standpoint, its rare for anyone to emerge as a real winner from any kind of lawsuit. 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. It is far from easy to define the cause of suffering or of the evil connected with it. More ouch! Types of Pain and Suffering Claims. 12). 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. 7). For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.. Before you can recover any compensation for your injuries, you must be able to prove liability against the defendant. Then . [deleted] Additional comment actions. All forms of pain and suffering that can be assigned a dollar value counts as economic loss. It is called "cross" and "resurrection". Being cut off from good is an evil. Christian Versus Christian Civil Dispute: According to 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, a Christian is not to civilly file a lawsuit against another Christian in a secular court of law. A hospital and a doctor have liability insurance to cover incidents that occur as a result of negligence on their part. He does know what He's doing . There are also times when this collective suffering becomes more acute. our 99 Self-Care Techniques for Christians, How God Used My Struggles with Scrupulosity to Teach Me His Amazing Grace. We all experience pain, and even suffering at some time in our lives. Economic Losses. Generally speaking, then, its a good idea to avoid lawsuits. No wonder suffering hurts! Many different cultures have their own interpretations of why people suffer. He does not attempt to do so with the nebulous obscurity of myth but penetrates to the very core of the Christian faith. Compare 1 Peter 1:6-7 where the same Greek words are used along with the verb dokimazo which means, "put to the test," "prove by testing as with gold.". The only answer [to the "why" of suffering] can come from the love of God in the Cross (cf. Depending on the facts of the case and what method is used to calculate damages, pain and suffering will make up some . A description of the biblical steps can be found in Matthew 18:15-17. But getting there is painful in the Lord's "laundry room." So often, people wonder what kind of cruel God would deliberately make a world so full of pain and suffering. We need to be reminded that we are living in "Plan B." Adrian Rogers Love Worth Finding. We keep wanting to go our own way, pretending that we are God. Pain and suffering are subjective in nature. Pain and suffering damages are often the largest part of a . 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.. This is the central mystery of the entire Christian religion, not in the abstract nor in an immensely remote way, but in a closeness present in human history into whose temporal dimensions eternity bursts, through the historical Incarnation of the Word with his birth, life, passion, death and Resurrection. To determine whether you can sue for pain and suffering damages, you must first look at liability in your case. Resources Throughout my time as a christian, i have heard many misconceptions about christians and their legal rights during this time. It can include: Physical pain. It's all part of a well-planned courtship. 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