What is the difference between actual and potential damages?

Actual damages are damages that have already been sustained, while potential damages are those which may be sustained in the future as a result of an event. In the context of catastrophic injury law in Washington, actual damages refer to the losses that an injured person has already experienced as a result of their injury. This could include medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Potential damages refer to the future losses that the injured person might incur due to the injury. These could include future medical expenses, lost earning capacity, and other expenses that may arise due to the injury in the future that are not known at the present time. In most cases, an injured party will be entitled to compensation for both actual damages and potential damages, but the degree of compensation will depend on a number of factors, such as the type of injury, the severity of the injury, and the applicable laws in Washington.

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