What is special and general damages?

Asked by: Tom Dooley  |  Last update: October 16, 2022
Score: 4.9/5 (2 votes)

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 a general damage?

Damages that arise directly and inevitably from a breach of contract. In other words, those damages that would be theoretically suffered by every injured party under these circumstances.

What is an example of special damages?

Types of Special Damages

Lost wages and loss of earnings. Medical treatment costs (including past and/or future) Costs toward everyday household assistance necessitated by the injury. Loss of one-of-a-kind items.

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 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.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPECIAL AND GENERAL DAMAGES?

34 related questions found

What are special damages in law?

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 different types of damages?

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

What are the 5 types of damages?

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

What is special damages accident?

Thus, where a person's property is damaged as a result of the wrongful act of another, it would usually be possible to quantify the loss in terms of the amount of money involved. When such amount can be determined as in the case of cost of repairs, replacement or restitution, it is referred to as special damages.

How are general damages calculated?

General damages will be calculated based on the level of pain and suffering you have experienced as a result of your personal injury or illness. Medical evidence will be used to support this element of your claim.

Which of the following would be classified as general damages?

General damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of companionship. Special damages are awarded for out-of-pocket or economic losses such as medical costs, loss or income, or damage to property.

What are general damages a level law?

General damages is compensation awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. Loss of amenity means the inability to complete activities, either temporarily or permanently, after an accident, which could be undertaken before, e.g. being unable to pursue certain hobbies or socialise with friends.

What is the difference between general and punitive damages?

General and special damages are compensatory damages, which serve to compensate the plaintiff for economic loss and pain and suffering, attempting to make them whole. Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for his or her negligence or recklessness.

What is special loss?

special loss or damage means loss or damage of a kind or extent which arises from circumstances special to the party claiming for loss and not from the ordinary course of things, whether or not those circumstances were known to the Escrow Agent either at the time this Agreement was entered into or later.

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.

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.

Who can claim general damages?

A claim for general damages is limited to compensation for a serious injury only, which is defined as 30% bodily impairment, serious long-term impairment, permanent disfigurement or long term mental disorder. If there is a serious injury, the claimant must be assessed by a medical practitioner.

What are general damages in PI claim?

General damages or non-pecuniary losses are those damages which cannot be mathematically assessed at the date of trial. The predominant head of general damages in personal injury claims is pain, suffering and loss of amenity although there are a number of other heads of general damages which must also be considered.

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 the 3 types of compensatory damages?

The three types of damages are economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

What are ordinary damages?

Damages that emerge in the ordinary course of occasions from the breach of agreement are called ordinary damages. Damages emerging out of characteristic and probable results of break of agreement are likewise viewed as an ordinary damage.

What are the 4 elements of Torts?

Understanding the Four Elements
  • The presence of a duty. Duty can be defined as simply as “an obligation to behave in an appropriate way.” A driver on the road has a duty to drive safely so as to avoid an accident.
  • The breach of a duty. ...
  • An injury occurred. ...
  • Proximate cause.

What is compensatory and punitive damages?

Compensatory And Punitive Damages

The compensatory damages awarded to plaintiffs are designed to give justice to them after being wronged. Punitive damages are designed to prevent others from being hurt by the same or similar actions.

What are the five types of damages that are common in tort cases?

Common torts include:assault, battery, damage to personal property, conversion of personal property, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Injury to people may include emotional harm as well as physical harm.

What is the difference between compensatory damages 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.