General damages are compensatory awards meant for what type of victim loss?

General damages are intended to compensate an individual for losses that are not easily quantifiable but nonetheless impact their quality of life. These generally encompass aspects such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship. Unlike specific measurable expenses, which can be documented through receipts and invoices, general damages account for the subjective experiences of the victim.

In particular, pain and suffering are crucial components of general damages, as they aim to address the physical discomfort and emotional toll that an injury may inflict on a person. Since these types of damages are inherently subjective, they do not have a fixed dollar amount and rely on the discretion of the court or jury to determine their worth based on the specifics of the case.

This differentiation clarifies why the other options do not fit the definition of general damages. Specific measurable expenses relate to concrete costs like medical bills or lost wages. Emotional and psychological distress does fall under tort law considerations, but it must be tied to tangible harm for proper classification. Legal costs, while potentially recoverable in some situations, are not included in the category of damages related to the injury itself but pertain to the expenses of pursuing the case. Therefore, the focus on pain and suffering as not having a specific measurement solidifies why this answer aligns