Pecuniary damages, also known as economic damages, refer to the financial losses or expenses incurred by a plaintiff as a direct result of an injury or harm caused by the defendant. This can include the cost of medical treatment, lost wages or income, property damage, and any other financial losses that can be quantified.
Examples of Pecuniary Damages:
Some examples of pecuniary damages that a plaintiff may seek in a personal injury lawsuit include:
- Medical expenses: This includes the cost of medical treatment, hospitalization, rehabilitation, prescription medication, and other related costs.
- Lost wages: This refers to the income that the plaintiff has lost due to their injuries, including any missed work, lost earning capacity, and future lost income.
- Property damage: This includes the cost to repair or replace any property that was damaged in the accident, such as a car or other personal belongings.
- Funeral expenses: In cases where the plaintiff has lost a loved one due to the accident, they may seek damages for the reasonable and necessary expenses associated with funeral and burial arrangements.
- Home modifications: If the plaintiff has sustained a permanent disability or injury that requires modifications to their home, such as a wheelchair ramp or bathroom modifications, they may seek damages to cover the cost of those modifications.
- Childcare expenses: If the plaintiff has children and is unable to care for them due to their injuries, they may seek damages to cover the cost of childcare services.
- Travel expenses: If the plaintiff needs to travel for medical treatment or other related expenses, they may seek damages to cover the cost of transportation, lodging, and other related expenses.
- Legal fees: If the plaintiff hires an attorney to represent them in their personal injury lawsuit, they may seek damages to cover the cost of legal fees and expenses.
Pecuniary damages are often sought in personal injury lawsuits to compensate the plaintiff for their economic losses, and can be awarded in addition to non-pecuniary damages such as pain and suffering. The amount of pecuniary damages awarded is typically based on the actual expenses incurred by the plaintiff, and may require evidence such as medical bills, repair bills, and documentation of lost wages or income.
