What are the common types of damages in a personal injury case?

In California, personal injury law covers a wide range of situations when someone has been harmed due to the negligence or intentional harm of another. When filing a personal injury claim, the plaintiff can seek damages, which are intended to compensate them for the harm they have suffered. The most common types of damages in a personal injury case in California are economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are those compensations that place a dollar value on the financial losses that have been suffered due to the negligence or intentional harm of another. These can include lost wages, medical expenses, and repair or replacement of damaged property. Non-economic damages, also referred to as general damages, are intended to compensate for the pain and suffering that has been endured due to the incident. These damages are not meant to put a dollar amount on the harm that was suffered; rather, their purpose is to acknowledge the pain and suffering that the plaintiff has endured. Examples of non-economic damages can include compensation for destruction of a person’s quality of life, disfigurement or disability, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. In addition to these two main types of damages, punitive damages may also be awarded in a personal injury case. These damages are not intended to compensate the plaintiff, but rather are meant to punish the defendant for their actions. The award of punitive damages is rare, but can be included in a settlement or awarded in a jury verdict.

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What are the common types of damages in a personal injury case?

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