Unlike general damages, calculating special damages is much more straightforward because it is based on actual expenses. To calculate your damages, you must be able to document the terms of the contract, what went wrong in the contract, and how you lost time or money because of the problem. General damages are those damages that are difficult to calculate. Special damages are economic, holding a specific dollar value to it. The common law of contract draws a distinction between general and special damages suffered. These damages are intended to return the plaintiff to the position that he or she was at before the slander occurred so that he or is she is basically in the same situation as he or she would have been not having been wronged. How to Calculate Pain and Suffering Damages. These include costs to repair or replace damaged property, lost wages, sick or vacation time you used during your recovery, and any other out-of-pocket expenses you incurred because of the injury. 2. Evidence of Pain and Suffering. General damages are damages considered to flow naturally and generally from a breach in the normal course of events and are recoverable without a need to prove anything more. It takes into consideration all of the expenses you were forced to incur as a direct result of the accident. In other words, figure out how much would it cost you if you had to replace the items that you lost, in the same condition that they were in at the time of your loss. General Damages . This will provide a starting point when calculating the compensatory damages that you are entitled to. Before you start calculating your damages, it's important to remember that pain and suffering damages must be supported by evidence. Special damages are typically easy to calculate. Calculating Damages: The Difference between Special and General Damages At McMullin Legal Group, we help our clients get the maximum compensation available to them after an accident. Actual or Special Damages Actual or special damages are compensatory damages. After you enter your numbers and click "Calculate," the two dollar figures you see above the "Your Total Settlement Estimate" field represent the two main types of damages that arise in the majority of injury cases: economic losses (called “special” damages) and non-economic losses (called “general” damages). If a personal injury claim was always as simple as only having special damages, things would be more clear cut. 3. Decide what the fair market value is for the items that you have lost. If you have been involved in an accident and have a personal … Punitive damages are normally used as punishment against companies or individuals who are proven to be at fault for an incident of extreme negligence. When the jury allows an award of special damages it is providing compensation for expenses you have incurred or will incur and for money lost because of the accident and injuries. Special Damages. 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