What are general damages in a negligence claim?

• A. Medical bills
• B. Pain and suffering
• C. Property damage
• D. Punitive damages

Answer: (B)

General damages cover harms from an injury that aren’t easily put into dollar amounts—the non-economic impact on the person. In negligence cases, they compensate for the subjective effects of the injury, primarily pain and suffering, and can also include related non-monetary harms like emotional distress or loss of enjoyment of life. Medical bills, lost wages, and property damage are considered special damages because they are tangible, monetary costs that can be documented and separately proven. Punitive damages are a separate category aimed at punishing particularly reckless or malicious conduct, not compensating the plaintiff’s harms. So the example that fits general damages best is pain and suffering.