What type of compensation addresses losses that are not easily quantifiable?

General damages are intended to compensate an individual for losses or injuries that are not easily quantifiable and may not have an associated monetary value. These often include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life. Unlike specific financial losses, such as medical expenses or lost wages covered by special damages, general damages focus on more abstract and subjective forms of harm. This type of compensation recognizes that certain impacts of an injury or loss cannot be easily measured in dollar terms but still deserve acknowledgment and restitution.

In contrast, special damages are designed for quantifiable financial losses, punitive damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct, and exemplary damages often serve a similar purpose to punitive damages, aiming to set an example against particularly egregious behavior.