One morning I learned that his car had died on the way to church, and I said something about what a bummer it was. The bottom line is that most types of workplace injury claims can only be resolved through the workers' comp . My friend Pete buried his wife a few years ago after a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. I shall first mention briefly several facts about the physiology of human pain. "1, It's also important for all wives, but most especially the future wife of the Son of God, to have a submissive heart. 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. Only God can bestow this solidarity upon us. The reason His strength can shine through us is because we know God better through suffering. Pain and suffering can can be a blessing. So when I say to a mother or father who has also lost a child, "I hurt with you, because I've lost a precious one too," my tears bring warmth and comfort in a way that someone who has never known that pain cannot offer. Because we live in a world broken by sin, life is painful. He allows us to experience storms in our lives for the same purpose: to learn to depend on God. But developing holiness in us is a worthwhile, extremely important goal for the Holy One who is our divine Bridegroom. 12). Christ provides an answer to the problem of suffering by offering his unreserved availability and compassion; his presence is effective: he gives help and gives himself (cf. It can also be helpful to keep a journal documenting your emotional suffering. 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. Paul explained what happens in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. This amount is separate from lost wages and other medical expenses, such as x-rays, medications, and hospital visits. . Paul said he delighted in weaknesses, hardships, and difficulties "for when I am weak, then I am strong.". One can thus realize and understand what would otherwise be an untenable paradox, scandal and folly: the Cross is glorious; having been the evil most feared as total death, it becomes the glorious beginning of the whole of the second creation. Something went wrong. Prior to filing a lawsuit, a person should attempt to settle his claim before he files a lawsuit. The multiplier method totals all the plaintiffs medical bills from the injury and multiplies that total by a number between 1.5 and 5. Let us now try to describe suffering. Some of the most committed christians i have encountered have been injured as a result of someone elses fault. ibid.,n. Physical pain and suffering refer to the damages related to physical pain that an injured person endures from an injury or accident. If possible, try finding witnesses who were present during those instances where someone else caused harm to others (or even themselves). Adrian Rogers Love Worth Finding. I strongly believe that Christians can and, in some cases, should sue individuals or corporate bodies for a number of reasons that have been mentioned above. The Pope thus situates us in the heart of the mystery whose light dazzles us. Pain is based on personal experiences and the severity of a persons injuries. The simple answer is yessometimes. I got facts in Sunday School, but I learned faith through trusting God in difficult circumstances. Being cut off from good is an evil. It is stated in the Bible that a Christian is not prohibited from suing a company for the collection of a lawful debt, but this does not mean that a Christian should exercise this right to sue a company. ibid.,n. ibid.,n, 16}. Sue wasn't too sure she wanted to talk to anybody about her life, let alone a . This is in addition to a separate amount covering the medical bills and lost work the plaintiff has as economic damages. No wonder suffering hurts! It is the very reason why Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to standards of this . The Pope enables us to penetrate into Revelation in order to move on to ascension in the mystery. The average payout for an injury from a car accident is $23,234 according to the Insurance Information Institute. Other factors could involve the newsworthiness of your case, how far along in litigation the case is, and whether you bear any responsibility for the accident or injury. He redeems all of it for His glory and our blessing. The church is not meant to be a loosely bound association of functional Lone Rangers. . An eternal God provides humans with an existence beyond the grave. The perfect Plan A of God's beautiful, suffering-free creation was ruined when Adam and Eve fell. The assistance that families give their sick relatives is important in this area. To determine whether you can sue for pain and suffering damages, you must first look at liability in your case. 1. Is it right to take another person to court if you think they have done something wrong? . I think that the more important question should be, Am I bringing glory to God? If you are not sure if your decision is the best one, then ask a trusted Christian friend or family member who has known you for a long time. In his book The Problem of Pain, he says: "Pain insists upon being attended to. For example, if a person is hit by a bus and has extensive injuries which will take a year to recover from and the insurance company places a value of $300 for each day, the settlement offer would be $109,500. It is God the Father who provides the answer to the problem of suffering: it consists in the fact that he "gives" his Son to the world. 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. 11). The Lord's purpose in both storms was to train them to stop relying on their physical eyes and use their spiritual eyes. Christian K. Lassen II View Profile . Many Christians only know they're saved without grasping what it is Christ has delivered them from. I am not aware of any biblical restrictions regarding the right of a person to sue a corporation. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:1718, This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. He does know what He's doing . Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, "This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an . 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. Several years ago I realized that instead of despising the fact that polio had left me with a body that was weakened and compromised, susceptible to pain and fatigue, I could choose to rejoice in it. The problem is especially difficult when it comes to the question of whether christians can bring lawsuits against others for personal injury. The original version of this article is found at www.probe.org/the-value-of-suffering/. 1. 2. Taken from: L'Osservatore Romano Weekly Edition in English 7 September 2005, page 9. Towards the end of the book Business by the Book, published by Thomas Nelson, I provide the following answer: In view of the fact that there were no corporations in existence when the Bible was written, the best we can do in order to relate the principle to the closest parallel of that time: a government agency. But even medicine is a gift from God where man tested God's creation and created medications that would help our fallen, human bodies. It is a core part of the Christian vocation to seek to relieve the suffering of others. Since the injuries are moderate, the insurance company might use a multiplier of 3 and offer a settlement of $15,000 for the pain and suffering component of the lawsuit. It is required of you, however, to treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector (i.e., a nonbeliever) if he refuses to listen to the church. But just because we experience suffering as we await the redemption of our bodies, it doesnt mean that our suffering is random or without purpose. There is no easy answer to this question. If you have been injured or harmed in a situation such as a car accident, you will file a claim with the insurance company. The disciples experienced two different storms out on the lake. In many cases the legal system can sort out the facts and come to a resolution far more quickly and effectively than the concerned individuals could on their own. We see this biblical truth illustrated through the persecuted church. You can transform our nation one family at a time! Deprivation does not demand a positive cause but the search for its origin. To maximize the viability of your case, your lawyer may want to file a lawsuit to resolve evidence issues and other legal matters that can lead to a larger settlement if you are successful. 2022 12 Aug. Serve the defendants notice of your lawsuit. In a lawsuit for personal injury, there are two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages. Sometimes He trusts us with great pain in order to make a point, whether the intended audience is believers, unbelievers, or the spirit realm. In Christ the enigma of pain and death is revealed. Claims Amount = $2,000 + $300 X [5 to 10%] Current pain and suffering is the time period from the time of your injury, to the completion of all your medical . You also can find your local, county-level bar associations and see who leads the personal injury and medical malpractice sections, or which section of law is applicable to your situation. God warned Adam that eating the forbidden fruit would result in death ( Gen 2 ). Instead of seeing that inability to pray as a personal failure, we can rejoice that our perception of being totally needy corresponds to the truth that we really are that needy. Jesus told His followers, "In this world you will have trouble. 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." Consequently, the cause of suffering is an evil; so, suffering and evil can be identified with each other. Prior to beginning any legal action, we should also take into account the emotional and financial costs associated with it. If you can see the purpose behind the pain, you can find the way out of this lie. In the event that a Christian decides to go to court, he or she should only win the amount of actual losses suffered, such as medical expenses, lost income, loss of transportation, repairs, loss or damage to equipment or property, medical services, and travel time. Some suffering is due to our sinful and wrong choices, but some is due simply to the world being fallen. 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. If we turn toward God in our pain, He can use our suffering to mature our faith. Used with permission. Christ himself is the One who was cared for, and the one who fell into the hands of bandits is cared for and helped. 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. A description of the biblical steps can be found in Matthew 18:15-17. The Bible doesnt whitewash our experience of suffering by saying that its all of one stripe. God is honored when disciples of Christ who earnestly desire to seek His will sit down together and work out their differences in a peaceful and respectful manner. He not only teaches those we rub shoulders with every day, but He instructs the countless millions of angels and demons. I've been in your shoes." ibid., n. 9). When someone is injured by another person or business, there are two ways to approach the situation: suing or forgiving. How Often Should You Take Communion According to The Bible. Injured people sometimes use claims related to pain as a way to justify higher payouts than those warranted by actual damages caused by negligence or wrongdoing; these types of lawsuits are generally referred to as pain and suffering cases because their goal is simply to receive compensation for an injury-related problem without regard for how much damage was actually done (i.e., whether or not someone was hurt). It forces us to face the fact that we are powerless to change other people and most situations. The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. 1:4) because we have experienced the reality of the Holy Spirit being there for us, walking alongside us in our pain. Feeling isolated is one of the hardest parts of suffering. 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. In this way, the mystery of suffering-love enters into the very constitution of God incarnate, the Son made flesh through the work of the Holy Spirit. The problem of pain and suffering has perplexed humanity since the fall of man, and for good reason. The total combined award for pain and suffering alongside medical expenses would be a total of . People put questions to God about its cause and frequently reach the point of denying him when they are unable to discover the reason for it (cf. Only in love is it possible to find the saving response to pain. She also loves speaking for MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) and Stonecroft Min More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. How Often Should You Take Communion According to The Bible? 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. This market value on pain and suffering established by similar cases is a starting point from which lawyers operate. The mystery of suffering is contained in the mystery of Love, in the mystery of the Spirit. Many plaintiffs' attorneys were trained to use one of two methods for calculating pain and suffering. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! Settlement could range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. He does not attempt to do so with the nebulous obscurity of myth but penetrates to the very core of the Christian faith. This the opinion of Job's friends (cf. It is also clear from the context of Acts 16:37 that he uses the implied threat of using that law as a means of punishing those who oppose him. I have an appreciation of heaven gained from a different experience. As a last resort, God has established the courts as a means of resolving disputes. Pete just shrugged and said, "This is nothing." To get the best possible experience please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge to view this website. This reality is a stark reminder that we have not reached the new heavens and new earth. In Matthew 5:25, Jesus tells us that. 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?". Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. You might be using an unsupported or outdated browser. Your email address will not be published. Therefore, there is no exact data on the largest settlements ever reached or even common settlement amounts. Like Mary in the example above, your pain and suffering may consist mostly of economic losses such as: Cost of medical care There is no question that corporations and businesses are entities controlled or owned solely by individuals, but they do not appear to have any rights under biblical guidelines, except by the rules of prevailing law. I have been asked to expound on John Paul II's incomparable thinking on human pain. When you use bleach to get rid of stains, it's a harsh process. The first thing you need to determine is whether a wrong has been committed and by whom. Ever since the fall of Adam, we keep forgetting that God created us to depend on Him and not on ourselves. We'd love to hear from you, please enter your comments. Can a person sue for pain and suffering? ibid.,n. With the Cross, he overcomes sin, and with his Resurrection, death (Jn 3:16; cf. 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. I got truth from studying, but I got to know the Savior through suffering. If a title is currently unavailable through Focus on the Family, we encourage you to use another retailer. It is quite understandable that this would happen. The sin committed by a person spreads by joint human liability. The definition is vague, but the law allows you to file an insurance claim for pain and suffering compensation. . The reason is because the standards, values, philosophies and culture of the world are opposed to Biblical values. Cases include: Pain and suffering can be caused by injuries such as: Factors that affect the amount of a pain and suffering settlement include: In most cases the settlement you are seeking is paid by an insurance company and the policy limits control how much of a settlement they offer. 1. Suffering produces growth and maturity (James 1:2-4). For Christians, it is important to have a Biblical view of why God allows suffering and how we are to go through it. Each of these are different ways that we can suffer, and when suffering comes, often several of these types of suffering are involved. Insurance companies typically limit what they pay in accordance with policy limits, but your lawyer may be able to reference your car being totaled when arguing for a pain and suffering settlement. Having been falsely arrested, he used the application of Roman law to be able to regain his freedom once he had been falsely incarcerated. For I . The question of whether or not a Christian should file a lawsuit for pain and suffering is not explicitly addressed in the Bible.. 2023 Forbes Media LLC. His suffering is redemptive; its depth can be measured by the depth of the evil in the history of the world, especially since the person who suffers it is God (cf. May pain and suffering be transformed into a source of strength for all humanity. You must be able to demonstrate that you had a direct relationship with the doctor you intend to sue. The Holy Father tells us that in Old Testament biblical language, suffering and evil are at first identified with each other. Seven times in the book of Hebrews, the author captures the heart of Christianity in a simple, wonderful command: draw near. Jan's suffering has given her an appreciation of the reality of heaven, and she's been changed forever. They would be entitled to compensation for their economic injuries separately (the cost of medical care and lost wages). February 28, 2023. our 99 Self-Care Techniques for Christians, How God Used My Struggles with Scrupulosity to Teach Me His Amazing Grace. Getting rid of wrinkles is even more painful: ironing means a combination of heat plus pressure. 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. He never lost consciousness in the ambulance because he was too busy praying prayers of thanksgiving for his survival. The psalmist learned this lesson as he wrote in Psalm 119:67: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. Jesus said that we should settle with an adversary on the way to court. Some states cap the amount of damages that can be awarded in a pain and suffering settlement. According to Jesus, you should settle an argument with an adversary even before you go to court. There are also times when this collective suffering becomes more acute. . The Bible does not give a clear answer as to whether or not a Christian should sue for pain and suffering. Firsthand experience in suffering is essential in equipping us for ministry. He wanted them to grow in trust and dependence on the Father. What if the person in question is a believer? 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. 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. After hearing their testimonies, few would deny that suffering produces beauty and maturity of spirit. It is called "cross" and "resurrection". We all experience pain, and even suffering at some time in our lives. 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. 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). Meghann Cuniff is a legal affairs journalist who is a veteran of daily newspapers and has deep experience reporting on complex civil litigation, including mass torts and class actions, securities cases, patent disputes and high-stakes litigation involving major tech companies. In God's sovereign scheme, pain and suffering are not only powerless to destroy the believer, they can result in a refined, resilient faith that perseveres and spurs others on in the same way, until we see our Lord and Savior face to face. Were on a mission to change that. The Lord Jesus has a big job to do, changing His ragamuffin church into a glorious bride worthy of the Lamb. Through suffering, human beings are incorporated into the pain of Christ. This gift of solidarity is the meaning of the Incarnation and the meaning of Jesus Christ. Suffering is a result of the fall. ", Sometimes our suffering isn't a consequence of our actions or even someone else's. Consequently, the cause of suffering is an evil; so, suffering and evil can be identified with each other. You have firsthand experience of both his sustaining grace and his purposeful design. Our culture disdains weakness, but our frailty is a sign of God's workmanship in us. I believe that insurance companies and corporations should be held accountable for their negligence, but what is more important is the attitude of a Christian as well as his or her submission to Gods will as a Christian. May we always seek to wrap our arms around the enfeebled, to clutch them to ourselves as if they were our own children. It can include: Physical pain. Suffering is abnormalour souls protest, "This isn't right!" There is nothing in Scripture that would prohibit you from defending yourself in this way. So often, people wonder what kind of cruel God would deliberately make a world so full of pain and suffering. If you believe you or someone you love were the victim of medical malpractice, contact Morgan & Morgan. Unlimited Right to Sue - Under the No Limitation on Lawsuit Option, you retain the right to sue the person who caused an auto accident for pain and suffering for any injury. Scripture makes it pretty clear that brothers and sisters in Christ should not be suing one another (1 Corinthians 6:1-11). Pope John Paul II states: "Suffering is something which is still wider than sickness", because there is a "distinction between physical suffering and moral suffering" (Salvifici Doloris, n. 5). I have overcome the world" ( John 16:33 ). Suffering brings a "one day at a time-ness" to our survival. New York, meanwhile, has no caps on any damages, economic, non-economic or punitive. Has Focus on the Family helped you or your family? Reading Time: 8 minutes By Mark W. Hamilton The Bible helps us answer the question. 2 Corinthians 1:9 tells us that hardships and sufferings happen "so that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.". panic attacks. Since Christ is the most intimate model for every person, the Holy Spirit, the Love of God and redemptive suffering enter into the actual objective, and we might say ontological, constitution of humanity. A temptation to power and self-exaltation lay in the late Jewish promise of the coming of the Messiah-Son of Man. Limited Right to Sue - By choosing the Limitation on Lawsuit Option, you agree not to sue the person who caused an auto accident for your pain and suffering unless you sustain one of the permanent injuries listed below . Thus, human pain and suffering are transformed from something negative into something positive, into a source of life, as it were because they become redemptive. In the Fourth Song of the Suffering Servant in the Book of Isaiah, the meaning of Christ's suffering in the passion is portrayed even more vividly than it is in the Gospels. 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. 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.. All Rights Reserved. if You take me through today . The average slip and fall settlement is between $15,000 and $45,000 for total damages. Rather, the disputed matter should be arbitrated or judged by a wise Christian or Christians. Wherever there is suffering, there is a battle a battle for your soul. Through all this I've been brought closer to God. Suffering prepares us to minister comfort to others who suffer. ibid.,10). 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. Church problems should not be taken to the court system, but . Draft a demand letter. Searching the Internet for attorneys can produce too many results to manage, but you can look at your state bar website for attorney directories or referral services. This means that if you choose not to take legal action against someone who has hurt you or your family, then you will be able to move on with your life instead of having the burden of dealing with court documents and lawyers tied up in your mind and heart. The Bible does talk about mediation, which could be considered a form of suing for your rights. Suffering prepares us for more glory. All forms of pain and suffering that can be assigned a dollar value counts as economic loss. But take heart! Rather, it recognizes the multifaceted ways that suffering can come upon us. Suffering Because of The Culture / Systems of the World. That truth about overcoming sustains Christians when suffering threatens to overwhelm. Suffering gives rise to love for those who suffer, a disinterested love to help them by relieving it. 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.