In a spinal cord injury lawsuit, you are eligible to claim compensation for the economic and non-economic damages you experienced due to the at-fault partyâ€s negligent actions. Economic damages refer to the financial, tangible losses you experienced due to the accident and your subsequent injuries. Non-economic damages, on the hand, involve the intangible pain and suffering you experience due to the spinal cord injury. In some cases, you may be eligible for punitive damages. While the purpose of economic and non-economic damages is to compensate for the losses you experienced due the accident, punitive damages intend to punish the at-fault party.