Damages are a monetary remedy that an injured party receives for their loss or injury. Damages are a representation of the harm done to the victim. The most common type of damages is compensatory damages. They are two types—economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are those that can be determined easily because they already have a value attached to them. For example, medical bills, continuing medical treatment, lost wages, loss of income potential from permanent injury, and property damages all have a pre-assigned value. These damages are also known as special damages.
Non-economic damages can be challenging to assign a specific value to. Sometimes referred to as general damages, they are subjective and include pain and suffering, loss of consortium and companionship, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, and disfigurement.
Compensatory damages aim to help the injured party return to their pre-accident and otherwise normal life as soon as possible.
Punitive damages are different from compensatory ones because they penalize the negligent person. Under Georgia laws, if the “defendant’s actions showed willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or the entire want of care,” punitive damages are appropriate.
A liable party can’t be arrested under civil law for negligence charges. Instead, the court can assign punitive damages. These extra monies go to the victim. However, they can also help deter the negligent party or others from acting in the same manner again.
