Special damages are designed to cover:

Special damages refer to specific, quantifiable losses incurred by an individual as a result of an injury or incident. These damages are designed to cover tangible expenses that can be documented and proven, such as medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other direct financial losses. This means that special damages are focused on compensating a person for actual out-of-pocket costs and specific monetary losses that can be calculated.

In contrast, emotional trauma and suffering fall under general damages, which are more subjective and harder to quantify. Potential future losses may also be considered a part of broader damage categories, like future economic loss or general damages, but they are not classified as special damages since they cannot be definitively calculated at the time of the claim. Loss of companionship or support relates to non-economic losses and is classified similarly to emotional distress, also not fitting the rigid definition of special damages.

Recognizing the distinction between special and general damages is important in the context of personal injury claims to ensure individuals understand the nature of the compensation they may be eligible for following an incident.