Compensatory Damages in Personal Injury Lawsuits: Economic and Non-Economic Losses

Note: The following information is intended to provide general information about the law of Virginia. This information is not intended to serve as legal advice or to be a substitute for consultation with an attorney. If you have a specific legal issue, you should get the advice of a licensed attorney.

In a personal injury case, the jury can award compensatory damages to compensate for the injured person’s losses. These losses fall into two categories: economic and non-economic. Both type of losses should be examined carefully and pursued.

Economic losses are the dollar losses that can be calculated based on the evidence. These losses include medical bills, the expected cost of future medical care, lost income, lost earning capacity, and damage to property.

Non-economic losses are losses that are not easily valued in dollars, but nevertheless are very real and important. These losses include physical pain and suffering; emotional and psychological pain and suffering; scarring and disfigurement; humiliation and embarrassment; inconvenience; any impairments and limitations that affect the person’s life; and the diminished quality of life and loss of enjoyment of life associated with those impairments and limitations. Although some states place a cap on recovery for non-economic losses, Virginia does not. (Virginia does, however, place a cap on the total recovery in medical malpractice cases.)

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If you or a loved one has been seriously injured due to someone else's negligence, you might be entitled to compensation. Contact the Law Office of Edward Scher in Richmond, VA for a free initial consultation at 804-421-6000, or complete our web form.