What does special damages mean in personal injury?

Compensation for quantifiable financial losses tied to an injury — medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and ongoing care costs. Special damages must be evidenced (receipts, payslips, invoices). They form the calculable foundation of any claim before non-economic damages are added.

Where does special damages apply?

Special damages is a concept used across most personal-injury systems on this site. See individual country pages for jurisdiction-specific application.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page describes the term as it appears in published authority and practitioner usage. For advice on your specific case, consult a solicitor or attorney qualified in your jurisdiction.

Special damages — Personal Injury Glossary

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Common questions.

Quick answers, plain English.

What does special damages mean in personal injury?
Compensation for quantifiable financial losses tied to an injury — medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and ongoing care costs. Special damages must be evidenced (receipts, payslips, invoices). They form the calculable foundation of any claim before non-economic damages are added.
Where does special damages apply?
Special damages is a concept used across most personal-injury systems on this site. See individual country pages for jurisdiction-specific application.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page describes the term as it appears in published authority and practitioner usage. For advice on your specific case, consult a solicitor or attorney qualified in your jurisdiction.

★ editorial note

This entry describes the term as it appears in published authority and practitioner usage. Nothing on this page is legal advice. For your specific case, consult a solicitor or attorney qualified in your jurisdiction. See /methodology for how we derive figures elsewhere on the site, /sources for the standing authority list, and /disclaimer for the scope statement.

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Special damages

What it means in practice.