Damages

Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff and all Arizona communities

Millions of accidents happen every day. In some situations, such as slip-and-fall cases, the victim may not suffer very severe injuries. However, under more dangerous circumstances, such as in the case of a car wreck, those involved may be very seriously hurt. When these incidents are the result of someone else’s negligence, the victims may have reasonable grounds to make a personal injury claim. The result of successful personal injury claims is the awarding of damages, or monetary compensation, to the plaintiff.

Types of Damages

There are two main types of damages that one may be awarded. Compensatory, or actual, damages serve to reimburse the victim for lost money. Items that may be included under compensatory damages include the following:

• • General Damages: Compensation for losses that have no dollar value, such as the loss of a loved one or pain and suffering
  • Special Damages: Compensation for quantifiable losses, such as medical bills, property damage, or lost wages.

While compensatory damages serve to directly benefit the victim, punitive damages act to have an immediate and direct impact on the party at fault. They act as a method of reforming the negligent party and deterring him or her from taking the same course of action in the future.