What is meant by special damages?

Asked by: Jayme Sanford  |  Last update: September 17, 2022
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In contract law, special damages (also called consequential damages) refer to irregular damages such as physical injuries during a breach of contract, but general damages would refer to the damages expected from the contract being breached. [Last updated in July of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]

What are special damages examples?

Examples of special damages include: the exact cost of medical bills; the exact amount of lost wages, the loss of an irreplaceable item; the costs of home care; the cost of domestic services; and the costs to repair or replace items of property.

What are special damages in insurance?

Special Damages — objectively assessed monies awarded to an injured party for tangible losses, such as wage loss, loss of use, nursing care, and medical expenses.

What is the purpose of special damages?

Special damages financially compensate the injured person for losses suffered due to the defendant's actions. Special damages are out-of-pocket expenses that can be determined by adding together all the plaintiff's quantifiable financial losses. However, these losses or expenses must be proven with specificity.

What is the difference between general and special damages?

There are two separate types of compensatory damages: “general damages” and “special damages.” General damages are the non-economic damages, commonly referred to as pain and suffering. Special Damages are economic damages, the medical bills, the lost earnings, all out-of-pocket expenses incurred because of the injury.

What are Special Damages

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How do you prove special damages?

Receipts, invoices, or the fair market value of damaged property can be used to prove your special damages. Any of the following losses may be considered special damages: The cost of repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed property, such as your vehicle.

What are special damage in tort?

In tort law, special damages are damages like car dents or medical expenses that can actually be ascertained, and they are contrasted with general damages, which refer to damages for things like intentional infliction of emotional distress which do not have a set monetary cost.

What is law regarding special damages in India?

Special damages are the damages when one party to the contract might receive a notice of special circumstances affecting the contract. Special damages are those damages where there is a breach of contract due to some special circumstances.

What are the 5 types of damages?

There are six different types of damages: compensatory, incidental, consequential, nominal, liquidated, and (sometimes) punitive.

What is schedule of special damages?

Schedule of Special Damages

This can be prepared at any time during the process of the claim and is likely to be regularly updated as the claim proceeds. The Special Damages claim could include: losses of earnings. a claim for any care and assistance required by you.

What are the 3 types of damages?

Types of Damages
  • COMPENSATORY. Compensatory damages are generally the most identifiable and concrete type of damages. ...
  • GENERAL. General damages are sought in conjunction with compensatory damages. ...
  • PUNITIVE. Punitive damages are meant to punish a Defendant for particularly egregious conduct.

Is emotional distress a special damage?

The victims of accidents and serious injuries often experience emotional distress for years or decades, and some will experience emotional distress for the rest of their lives. In California, emotional distress is considered a form of non-economic damages.

What are special damages English law?

Special damages compensate the claimant for quantifiable monetary losses suffered as a result of the defendant's act or omission and, as a recognised term, is specific to personal injury claims.

Why are special damages awarded in only certain circumstances?

Some contracts relate to matters where losses are hard to quantify. These contracts often contain a condition requiring one of the parties to give up their right to sue for special damages. Certain jurisdictions also only allow special damages claims if the losses suffered were unavoidable.

What are the 6 types of damages?

There are six different types of damages: compensatory, incidental, consequential, nominal, liquidated, and (sometimes) punitive.

What are the four types of damages?

One of the most common remedies comes in the form of damages, or monetary awards, which are further broken down into four general categories.
  • Compensatory Damages. Compensatory damages (or “actual damages”) are specifically meant to make up for the plaintiff's losses. ...
  • Punitive Damages. ...
  • Liquidation Damages. ...
  • Nominal Damages.

What are the two types of damages?

Generally, there are two types of damages: compensatory and punitive. (The term "damages" typically includes both categories, but the term, "actual damages" is synonymous with compensatory damages, and excludes punitive damages.)

What are types of damages?

General damages refer to those damages which arose naturally during the normal course of the events. Special damages are those that do not, of course, arise from the breach of the defendant and can only be recovered if they were in the reasonable consideration of the parties at the time they made the contract.

How damages are decided by the court?

Damages will be calculated based on the facts and circumstances of each situation. Furthermore, it is the arbitrators' decision to use one formula over another and the calculation of the quantum of damages will be under their purview, and would not warrant court intervention.

What are the 4 types of damages available for breach of contract?

Today, we're looking into four types of damages you may be able to receive in a breach of contract case.
  • Compensatory damages. ...
  • Punitive damages. ...
  • Nominal damages. ...
  • Liquidated damages.

Are special damages same as pecuniary?

Pecuniary damages (also known as “special damages”) are those that can be measured in dollars, such as loss of past and future earnings, medical costs or care expenses. Non-pecuniary damages (also known as “general damages”) are those that can't be measured in monetary terms.

Are compensatory damages special damages?

Compensatory damages are further categorized into special damages, which are economic losses such as loss of earnings, property damage and medical expenses, and general damages, which are non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and emotional distress.

What are the 3 remedies at law?

There are three types of equitable remedies: specific performance, injunction, and restitution.

When can damages be awarded?

Damages are usually awarded for expectation loss (loss of a bargain) or reliance loss (wasted expenditure).

What are damages in civil law?

Damages are the sums assessed in monetary terms that are paid to a successful plaintiff. Damages may be awarded as compensatory damages for damage sustained, or as aggravated or exemplary damages, although in State of NSW v Corby (2009) 76 NSWLR 439 aggravated damages were described as a form of compensatory damages.