There are two types of damages in a personal injury case: economic damages and non-
economic damages.
Connecticut Jury Instructions Section 3.4-1 explained in part below, explains damages:
In a personal injury action, there are two general types of damages with
which you must be concerned: economic and noneconomic damages.
Economic damages are monies awarded as compensation for monetary
losses and expenses which the plaintiff has incurred, or is reasonably
likely to incur in the future, as a result of the defendant’s negligence.
They are awarded for such things as the cost of reasonable and
necessary medical care and lost earnings.
The plaintiff is entitled to recover the reasonable value of medical
care and expenses incurred for the treatment of injuries sustained as a
result of the defendant’s negligence. A plaintiff is also entitled to recover
any loss of earnings or earning capacity that (he/she) proves to have been
proximately caused by the defendant’s negligence
Noneconomic damages are monies awarded as compensation for non-
monetary losses and injuries which the plaintiff has suffered, or is
reasonably likely to suffer in the future, as a result of the defendant’s
negligence. They are awarded for such things as physical pain and
suffering, mental and emotional pain and suffering, and loss of
diminution of the ability to enjoy life’s pleasures.
A plaintiff who is injured by the negligence of another is entitled to
be compensated for all physical pain and suffering, mental and emotional
suffering, loss of the ability to enjoy life’s pleasures, and permanent
impairment or loss of function that (he/she) proves by a fair
preponderance of the evidence to have been proximately caused by the
defendant’s negligence
If you (a jury) find that it is reasonably probable that (he/she) has
suffered permanent physical harm, loss of function or disfigurement, the
plaintiff is entitled to be compensated for that category of injury.
Several important things to note
A jury is only required to aware the reasonable value of medical care, to an injured
person (the plaintiff). A jury can decide that some or all of the medical care is not
reasonable and refuse to award the full amount of the medical care.
A jury has a lot of discretion to determine the amount of an award for pain and
suffering. In general, in a motor vehicle accident case, the amount of money awarded for
pain and suffering will be related to the extent of damage to an injured party’s motor
vehicle. The greater the impact, the more likely a jury will believe that a person has been
injured, and the greater the likely injury.
If you have any questions, or Attorney Singer can be of assistance, you can reach him at
Attorney Robert M. Singer
2572 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
203-248-8278