What is the difference between general damages and punitive damages?

Asked by: Dr. Tyreek Rippin V  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.2/5 (36 votes)

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 are general damages?

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 punitive damages?

Punitive damages are also called “exemplary damages,” which are damages assessed in the legal process to punish a defendant for negligence. ... Individuals can also be ordered to pay punitive damages that injure someone else due to negligent behavior. Examples of this would be drunk driving or distracted driving.

What are the 3 types of compensatory damages?

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

What are the types of general damages?

Types of General Damages
  • physical pain and suffering.
  • physical disfigurement.
  • physical impairment.
  • mental anguish.
  • loss of companionship (paid to family members in wrongful death cases), and.
  • lowered qualify of life.

What's the difference between General vs. Special vs. Punitive Damages?

41 related questions found

What are general and specific damages?

General damages represent the types of damages that can't easily be assigned a monetary value, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium and emotional trauma. ... Special damages include things like medical bills and lost wages. These are your “out of pocket” expenses.

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 is the difference between punitive and compensatory damages?

Compensatory damages are given to the injured victim to help pay for medical expenses and other damages created, while punitive damages are meant to penalize the at-fault party.

How are general damages calculated?

General damages that are awarded for pain and suffering in the U.S. are typically calculated as three to four times the amount of the plaintiff's medical bills and added to the amount that is actually meant to cover the bills.

What are monetary damages?

Monetary damages are a form of judicial remedy that can be awarded to a claimant in compensation for an injury or loss wrong- fully inflicted. 1 This form of remedy is most commonly referred to simply as “damages.” The essence of damages is the payment of money as a release from civil liability.

When as a general rule are punitive damages assessed?

Punitive damages are considered punishment and are typically awarded at the court's discretion when the defendant's behavior is found to be especially harmful. Punitive damages are normally not awarded in the context of a breach of contract claim.

How do you determine punitive damages?

Although there is no maximum sum, punitive damages typically do not exceed four times the amount of compensatory damages. For example, if a plaintiff recovers $100,000 in compensatory damages and is awarded punitive damages, they most likely will receive up to $400,000 in punitive damages. There are exceptions, though.

What is the opposite of punitive?

Opposite of inflicting or intended as punishment or a form of vengeance. nonpunitive. nonpunishable.

Are compensatory damages general 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 general damages in law?

General Damages:

General damages compensate a plaintiff for non-monetary aspects of their loss, such as pain and suffering. For example, if John is rear-ended and suffers injuries, he is entitled to damages as a result. Courts will calculate his damages by referencing previous, similar case law.

How do general damages differ from 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.

Do general damages include emotional distress?

Among other things, an injured victim may seek general damage compensation for: Pain and suffering. Emotional distress. Mental anguish.

What is the difference between compensatory and aggravated damages?

The same conduct may give rise to aggravated and/or punitive damages. Aggravated damages are compensatory while punitive damages are intended to be punishment for wrongdoing. Aggravated damages require proof of injury while punitive damages do not.

What is the difference between compensatory and punitive damages quizlet?

What is the difference between compensatory and punitive damages? Compensatory damages are intended to compensate the injured for the loss. When a tort is intentional, punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the person who committed the tort.

Are punitive damages special damages?

Punitive damages (also known as “exemplary damages” in California) constitute a special, separate category of non-economic damages. Whereas other non-economic damages aim to compensate personal injury plaintiffs for the harms they suffered, punitive damages have a different purpose.

What is the difference between damages and compensation?

Damages are awarded for suffering injury while compensation stands on a higher footing. Compensation aims to place the injured party back in a position as if the injury has not taken place by way of pecuniary relief for the caused injury.

What are the 3 remedies at law?

Monetary awards (called “damages”), specific performance, and restitution are the three principle remedies.

What are three types of damages recoverable in a lawsuit?

There are three types of damage that form the foundation of most civil lawsuits: compensatory, nominal, and punitive.

What is another word for punitive damages?

Punitive damages are also known as exemplary damages.

What is another name for punitive damages?

Also called exemplary damages .