Which type of damages specifically covers identifiable expenses like medical bills and lost wages?

Special damages are designated to compensate an individual for specific, quantifiable economic losses that arise from an injury or a wrongful act. These damages are directly tied to identifiable expenses, such as medical bills, lost wages, and other measurable financial impacts resulting from an incident.

For instance, if someone is injured in an accident and incurs medical expenses or misses work as a result, the special damages would cover those exact costs. This makes it easier for the injured party to claim compensation for the specific losses they experienced as a direct consequence of the incident.

In contrast, bodily injury is a broader term that involves the physical aspect of injuries but does not specifically focus on economic losses. Personal injury refers to harm to someone's body, mind, or emotions, encompassing a wider spectrum of damages beyond just financial ones. Punitive damages, on the other hand, are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future rather than compensate the victim for their expenses. Therefore, special damages are the correct classification for claims related to identifiable expenses.