The goal of a personal injury lawsuit is to make the victim as whole as possible, to restore them to the position they would have been in had they not suffered injury because of the defendant’s actions. Personal injury law does this by financially compensating the victim for the economic and non-economic damages that they suffer from their injury.
Economic Damages
These are tangible damages whose value remains constant regardless of who is evaluating them. Economic damages can be determined by a review of receipts, invoices, medical bills, and other such evidence. They may include past and future medical expenses, property damages, past and future lost wages, or out-of-pocket expenses.
Non-economic Damages
These are intangible damages and they are often less concrete and more subjective than economic damages. Non-economic damages usually require the input of economics experts who can help to put an economic value to such damages as pain and suffering, loss of joy in living, and emotional distress.