Special damages
Special damages refers to the compensation a claimant receives for financial losses.
Unlike general damages compensation (which is calculated with reference to a set of tariffs that sets out awards for different injuries), special damages relate directly to the financial losses that a specific claimant has incurred following their injury.
Special damages could include:
- Lost wages,
- Treatment costs,
- Travel costs, or,
- Property damage
For example, two claimants who both sustain very similar back injuries in a road accident would receive the same general damages, but they could each receive different special damages compensation, depending on their individual circumstances.
See: General damages
Author:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher
About the author
Gaynor Haliday is an experienced legal researcher and published author. She has had numerous articles published in the press and is a legal industry commentator.
