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If Tim is awarded $55,000 for his medical expenses due to an auto accident, how are these damages categorized?

  1. Special damages

  2. General damages

  3. Punitive damages

  4. Nominal damages

The correct answer is: Special damages

The categorization of damages in a personal injury case, such as Tim's $55,000 award for medical expenses resulting from an auto accident, falls under special damages. Special damages are quantifiable expenses that a plaintiff incurs due to an injury, which can include medical bills, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket costs directly related to the injury. In this context, the $55,000 represents specific, measurable expenses Tim incurred, making it clear that these are not general damages, which instead refer to non-economic losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life. Punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future, while nominal damages are awarded when a legal wrong has occurred but no significant monetary loss has been demonstrated. Therefore, the correct categorization of Tim's damages as special damages emphasizes their direct link to his medical costs arising from the auto accident.