What are general damages in insurance claims?

General damages in insurance claims refer to non-monetary losses that are often more challenging to quantify in financial terms. This category encompasses various forms of suffering and trauma experienced by the victim, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and other subjective impacts on the individual's quality of life. Unlike specific damages, which can be easily calculated through receipts and bills, general damages are rooted in the intangible effects of an injury and often require subjective assessments and legal interpretation to determine their value.

In contrast, the other options refer to types of damages that involve more concrete financial implications or quantifiable expenses. For example, monetary losses that are straightforward to calculate fall under special or specific damages, which are direct financial losses that can be objectively proven. Proven expenses related to medical care also fit into this category, as these costs can be documented by medical bills and receipts. Similarly, costs associated with lost productivity pertain to measurable income loss resulting from an inability to work due to injuries, which is again a more quantifiable loss. These distinctions help clarify the unique nature of general damages within the insurance claim framework.