What Is Pain and Suffering, and How Is It Calculated in NC?   If you’ve been injured in a car accident in North Carolina, you’ve probably heard the term “pain and suffering” thrown around — but most people don’t know what it actually covers, or how insurance companies and courts put a dollar figure on something that isn’t as simple as a medical bill or a repair estimate. At Tien Law Firm, founded by award-winning personal injury attorney Sonya Tien