The two main types of damages are economic and non-economic. Economic damages refer to actual losses related to your injuries. For instance, if you spent time in the hospital, underwent surgery, or needed physical therapy, you can recover compensation for those losses. Economic damages also include your lost wages if you missed time at work.  In a successful claim, you can also collect non-economic damages that cover your pain and suffering. In rare cases, the court will award punitive damages to penalize the defendant for particularly egregious behavior. For instance, if a drunk driver caused your injuries, you might have an opportunity to collect punitive damages.