What's the difference between general and special damages?

Asked by: Prof. Alvis Heathcote  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.5/5 (74 votes)

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 is the difference between special damages and general damages?

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 are general and specific damages?

Like ordinary damages are the right of the aggrieved party whatever loss he has suffered it will get but special damages get in a special situation so it might not get in all the situations.

What are examples of special damages?

Common examples of special damages include the following:
  • Medical expenses.
  • Transportation costs.
  • Loss of wages.
  • Loss of earning capacity.
  • Property damage.

What is a general damage?

general damages. n. monetary recovery (money won) in a lawsuit for injuries suffered (such as pain, suffering, inability to perform certain functions) or breach of contract for which there is no exact dollar value which can be calculated.

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

20 related questions found

How do you calculate special and general damages?

To get a reasonable starting number for negotiating general damages, many insurance companies and attorneys multiply the amount of medical special damages by a factor of 1.5 to 5, depending on the severity of the injuries. In extreme cases, a factor of more than 5 may be used.

Is loss of use general or special 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 is a special damages claim?

Special damages is compensation to cover the financial losses and expenses incurred as a result of an accident or negligent medical treatment. The aim is to put you back in the financial position you would have been in, had the accident or medical negligence not occurred.

What does without proof of special damages mean?

Law/Patents - Law: Contract(s) English term or phrase: without proof of special damages. The Recipient agrees that the Discloser will be entitled without proof of special damages to seek the remedies of an injunction and other equitable relief for any actual or threatened breach by the Recipient of this Agreement.

What does special damages mean 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.

Which is easier to prove special damages or general damages Why?

Calculating Special Damages In a Personal Injury Case

Unlike general damages, special damages are often easy to calculate because an exact dollar amount has already been spent on these items, or the amount lost can be established through existing documentation.

Are punitive damages special or general 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.

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 special damages in New York?

Special damages are easily measured monetary losses

To get full reimbursement for your medical bills, transportation expenses to doctor appointments, and lost wages, your New York City personal injury lawyer must present solid evidence of these losses.

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 special damages in a personal injury case?

Special damages – Sometimes referred to as economic damages, special damages include out-of-pocket expenses that resulted from the negligent actions of the defendant. A goal of awarding special damages is to place the victim in a position they would be in had they not suffered their injuries.

What are compensatory damages special 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.

Is loss of income a special damage?

Lost wages and loss of earning capacity are examples of special damages. Special damages are monetary amounts that are able to be calculated such as medical bills, lost wages, property damages, and any out-of-pocket expenses.

What are general damages in Canada?

General damages are paid for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. There's a maximum amount that the court will award for this type of compensation. This cap is determined by reference to a 1978 case (three of them actually) from the Supreme Court of Canada.

What are the 3 types of compensatory damages?

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

Are special damages consequential damages?

Consequential damages, otherwise known as special damages, are damages that can be proven to have occurred because of the failure of one party to meet a contractual obligation, a breach of contract. ... Consequential damages go beyond the contract itself and into the actions that arise from the failure to fulfill.

What is a 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 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.

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 does Defamation prove actual damages?

Generally a plaintiff must prove actual malice to be awarded punitive damages. Actual malice can be proved by showing the defendant knew the statement they made about the plaintiff was false or acted with reckless disregard about whether it was false.