Types of Damages in Personal Injury Case
Compensatory Damages in Personal Injury Cases
Most personal injury damages are classified as "compensatory," meaning that they are intended to compensate the injured plaintiff for what was lost due to the accident or injury.
A compensatory damages award is meant to make the injured plaintiff "whole" again from a monetary standpoint (to the extent that's possible). This means trying to put a dollar figure on all the consequences of an accident.
Some compensatory damages are relatively easy to quantify -- like reimbursement for property damage and medical bills.
But it's harder to place a monetary value on pain and suffering or the inability to enjoy hobbies because of physical limitations caused by lingering accident-related injuries.