Damages

Damages represent the monetary value assigned to a plaintiff's losses from an injury. PI damages typically include: economic damages (measurable financial losses like medical bills, lost wages, future earning capacity, and property damage) and non-economic damages (subjective harms like pain, suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and reduced quality of life). Some jurisdictions cap non-economic damages (especially in medical malpractice). Punitive damages may apply when defendant's conduct was malicious or egregious. Documenting damages requires comprehensive records: medical bills, pay stubs, expert testimony on future care needs, and sometimes life care planning reports. Insurance companies evaluate total damages to determine settlement ranges. Accurately quantifying non-economic damages is challenging and often requires attorney experience and sometimes jury verdict data from similar cases.