Samuel was seriously injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. His settlement included payments for repairs to his vehicle, medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Which payment is considered general damages?

• A. Repairs to his vehicle.
• B. Medical bills.
• C. Pain and suffering.
• D. Lost wages.

Answer: (C)

General damages cover non-economic harms that aren’t tied to a specific dollar amount, like pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life. Special damages handle economic losses that can be measured with receipts and records—things like medical bills, costs to repair a vehicle, and wages lost due to injury. In this case, the payment for pain and suffering is general damages because it compensates for the intangible impact of the injury rather than a concrete expense. The other items—repairs to the vehicle, medical bills, and lost wages—are out-of-pocket costs with identifiable amounts, so they count as special damages.