Legal damages refers to the civil consequences awarded to a plaintiff or defendant after the trial concludes. Damages are most often financial but in cases involving physical property such as a house or parcel of land, that property may also be awarded as damages.

In general, there are two types of damages: compensatory damages and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are awarded according to statute and are intended to make whole a plaintiff who has been wronged. Compensatory damages can cover lost wages, medical expenses, psychological injury, or even wrongful death. Punitive damages, on the other hand, exist to punish a defendant for egregious wrongs that have been committed. Punitive damages are still awarded to the plaintiff but are intended to deter the defendant’s future behavior.

In general, damages are assessed based on the type and severity of an injury. For example, when an individual sues for physical injury suffered, they can often recover medical expenses with a different amount of recovery depending on the amount of medical expenses incurred. Similarly, lost wages can be calculated based on the number of hours lost. For less tangible injuries, the amount of damages awarded can vary depending on jury opinions and statutory limits.

There are a number of statutes that deal with the recommended amount of damages that may be awarded to a plaintiff for different harms suffered. These statutes may limit or cap the amount of damages that can be awarded to a plaintiff on a single charge. For this reason, plaintiffs may allege multiple harms in order to ensure that they are duly compensated.

If there is some egregious wrong or intentional harm that has been inflicted on a plaintiff, then the court may instruct the jury that they may award punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. In the event that the court feels that punitive damages are appropriate, they will be offered.