What are general damages in a liability case?

General damages in a liability case refer specifically to non-economic losses, which include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and other subjective harms that are not easily quantifiable in financial terms. Unlike economic damages, which can be calculated based on actual financial loss such as medical bills or lost wages, general damages compensate the injured party for the intangible effects of their injury or loss. This type of compensation acknowledges that not all suffering can be represented with a direct monetary figure, recognizing the broader impact an injury may have on a person's life and well-being.

The concept of general damages is significant because it allows the legal system to address the emotional and psychological aspects of personal injury, acknowledging that these experiences can profoundly affect an individual's quality of life.