What’s the Difference Between General Damages and Special Damages in a Personal Injury Claim?
If you have suffered a personal injury as a result of an auto accident, and you are pursuing claim, you undoubtedly have wondered what damages you may be able to claim as compensation for any harm that was done to you. There are many different types of damages which you can sue for, but two broad categories for damages that arise frequently are general damages and special damages.
General damages are not always clearly defined, but they typically follow for personal injuries after a car crash, or other accident, and the cause of the injuries directly stems from the actions of a defendant who must pay for those damages. General damages can be for physical pain or injury, as well as mental anguish. General damages can also be awarded when a plaintiff has lost or compromised aspects of their life that they would not have had to compromise had the accident not occurred. It is generally difficult to “prove” these damages, but they are assumed to be a natural consequence of the type of accident and injury being brought forth in a personal injury claim. An example of the type of injury and resulting costs which would warrant general damages are the physical pain and suffering of facial scarring after a car accident, and the resulting emotional pain stemming from the embarrassment of a disfigured face. General damages would certainly be awarded for such a personal injury, even though the final monetary costs associated with that pain, suffering, and embarrassment are not clearly defined or ascertained.
Special damages on the other hand refer to specific monetary losses which can in fact be calculated. Using the example above, medical bills for the healing period, and the facial reconstruction, as well as the lost wages from being out of work during the recovery period, can be calculated and included as part of the special damages owed. If you were to find yourself in a car crash or auto accident, be sure to keep track of all monetary expenditures, bills, and out of pocket costs. These can all be tallied as part of the special damages owed to you, in addition to any general damages coming your way to compensate you for the harm you have suffered due to the other party’s negligence.
Recovering all of the damages due to you, whether they be for general or special damages, requires the experience, knowledge, and skills of a seasoned personal injury lawyer. Be sure to equip yourself with one who will protect your best interests and fight for your case before you set foot in a courtroom, or sign a single document. If you live in Los Angeles, the California Attorney Group has excellent lawyers who have trained and worked for years in the field of personal injury law. These Los Angeles personal injury lawyers know the intricacies of these types of cases, and the tricks opposing attorneys will use to diminish the amount of damages that should come your way. Don’t let that happen. Guard yourself with the best, and don’t go it alone. Contact the California Attorney Group today for a consultation on how to best win your case.
