what are special damages

Quick Scoop

Special damages are the specific, measurable financial losses someone can prove with records, receipts, or bills after an accident, injury, or breach. They are different from general damages , which cover less tangible harm like pain and suffering.

What they usually include

• Medical bills and treatment costs.

• Lost wages or lost income.

• Repair or replacement costs for damaged property.

• Transportation, rental car, or other out-of-pocket expenses tied to the incident.

Simple example

If a car crash leaves you with a $4,000 hospital bill, $1,200 in lost pay, and $800 in car repairs, those amounts are special damages because they can be calculated exactly.

In plain English

Think of special damages as the “math” part of compensation: if you can document the loss, you may be able to claim it. General damages are the harder-to-measure losses, like physical pain or reduced quality of life.

If you want, I can also explain special damages vs. general damages in a quick side-by-side table.