What might be classified as special damages in an insurance claim?

In the context of insurance claims, special damages refer to quantifiable monetary losses that a claimant can itemize. Medical bills and lost wages are prime examples of special damages because they can be precisely calculated and documented. Medical bills can include costs for hospitalization, treatment, medication, and rehabilitation, while lost wages represent the income that the claimant has lost due to being unable to work as a result of an injury.

The importance of this classification lies in the fact that special damages provide a clear financial impact that can be substantiated with receipts, invoices, and pay stubs. This makes it straightforward for both the claimant and the insurance adjuster to assess the monetary value of these damages.

In contrast, options like pain and suffering, long-term emotional distress, or future care needs tend to fall under general damages or non-economic damages, which are more subjective and harder to quantify. They may be acknowledged in insurance claims but are not classified as special damages due to their lack of precise monetary measurement.