Special damages in a personal injury lawsuit are a monetary award for out-of-pocket expenses that someone incurs due to the harmful, negligent, or careless action of the defendant in the case. Special damages are also known as economic damages. A common example of this is medical bills or even lost wages. These aren’t like general damages, which are given for intangible losses such as pain and suffering. A personal injury attorney can give you a better understanding of what these special damages are.
What Do They Cover?
Special damages cover losses that can be calculated into a dollar amount. This can include lost wages or earnings if the victim is unable to work again, loss of items (such as a vehicle or costs associated with repairing a vehicle), costs associated with medical expenses, etc. The goal of awarding these damages is to help the injured victims to get back to the place they would have been in if the situation that caused the personal injury never took place. These special damages must be clearly stated in a defined amount before any trial begins. This makes it essential to secure the services of an experienced personal injury lawyer in the state of New York.
