A: How you calculate pain and suffering in Louisiana will vary, as there are multiple ways to calculate these intangible damages. Generally, the more serious your injuries and the more they are expected to affect your life, the higher your pain and suffering damages are likely to be. The recovery time for your injury will be a big factor. It is important to have an attorney by your side during this process, as they can help you calculate accurate damages and prevent you from accepting lowball settlement offers.