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

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.

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