Damages
Money a court orders one party to pay another to compensate for harm or loss.
Damages are the money awarded by a court to compensate someone who has been harmed. The goal is usually to put the injured person back in the position they would have been in if the harm had not occurred.
There are several types of damages. Compensatory damages cover actual losses like medical bills, lost wages, and property repair costs. General damages cover less tangible harms like pain and suffering. In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded to punish particularly bad conduct.
Why it matters: Damages are how most civil lawsuits are resolved. If you win your case, the court does not typically punish the other side – it orders them to pay you for the harm they caused. Understanding what damages you can claim helps you evaluate whether a lawsuit is worth pursuing.
Example: After a car accident caused by another driver, you receive $8,000 in medical bills and miss two weeks of work. You could seek compensatory damages for the medical bills and lost wages, plus general damages for pain and suffering.
Civil lawsuits, personal injury cases, contract disputes, property damage claims