Legal Definitions - pecuniary injury

A pecuniary injury refers to a financial loss or harm that can be quantified in monetary terms. It is an injury that directly impacts an individual's or entity's economic well-being, assets, or income, and for which a specific monetary value can be calculated.

Here are some examples illustrating pecuniary injury:

• Example 1: Business Interruption

  A small business owner's storefront is severely damaged by a burst water pipe due to a neighboring tenant's negligence. As a result, the owner must close the store for two months for repairs. During this period, the business loses significant sales revenue and incurs expenses for temporary storage of inventory. The lost profits and additional storage costs represent a pecuniary injury because they are direct financial losses that can be calculated based on past sales records and invoices.

• Example 2: Medical Malpractice

  A patient undergoes a surgical procedure, but due to a surgeon's error, they suffer complications that require additional surgeries, extended hospital stays, and prolonged physical therapy. The patient also misses several months of work, resulting in lost wages. The medical bills for the corrective procedures, the cost of therapy, and the income lost from being unable to work all constitute a pecuniary injury, as these are specific financial burdens directly caused by the negligence.

• Example 3: Property Damage

  A homeowner's valuable antique vase is accidentally broken by a delivery person. The vase was appraised at $5,000. The cost to replace the vase or the decrease in its market value due to the damage is a direct financial loss to the homeowner. This loss of value or the expense of replacement is a pecuniary injury because it represents a quantifiable reduction in the homeowner's assets.