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Simple English definitions for legal terms
general damages
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A quick definition of general damages:
General damages refer to the harm that someone suffers because of a breach of contract or a tort. This harm is something that anyone in the same situation would experience. For example, if someone broke a contract to pay $100,000 for services, the person who provided the services would suffer at least $100,000 in general damages. Courts can also award other types of damages, such as special damages and punitive damages.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: General damages refer to the harm that is directly caused by a breach of contract or tort. These damages are suffered by every injured party under similar circumstances.
For instance, if a defendant breaches a contract that would have paid the plaintiff $100,000 for services rendered, then any plaintiff in this situation would have suffered at least $100,000 in general damages.
General damages are different from consequential (special) damages and punitive damages. Consequential damages are those that arise from the breach of contract or tort, but are not directly caused by it. Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant for their actions.
Example: A person is injured in a car accident caused by another driver's negligence. The injured person suffers physical injuries, emotional distress, and lost wages due to missed work. These damages are considered general damages because they are directly caused by the accident and would be suffered by any injured party in a similar situation.
Explanation: In this example, the injured person suffered harm that is directly caused by the other driver's negligence. The physical injuries, emotional distress, and lost wages are all general damages because they are suffered by any injured party in a similar situation.