While special damages can pinpoint an exact dollar amount, general damages—also referred to as pain and suffering—can’t be calculated.
Special damages are monetary losses such as medical expenses and lost wages. For pain and suffering, on the other hand, there aren’t strict guidelines to determine a specific dollar amount. If your case goes to trial, the amount of money you’re awarded depends entirely on the jury; what they decide is appropriate is the amount of money you’ll get. You can go to trial and state your expectation, but there’s no guarantee.