What are general damages typically associated with?

General damages are primarily associated with intangible losses that cannot be easily quantified in monetary terms. These include aspects such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship. Unlike specific damages, which can be calculated based on actual expenses or financial losses, general damages aim to compensate an individual for the subjective, non-economic impact of their injuries or suffering.

Pain and suffering, for instance, reflect the physical and emotional distress that a person endures due to an injury, and there is no standard formula for calculating these damages, as they are inherently subjective. Thus, the essence of general damages lies in acknowledging and compensating the profound, but less tangible, effects of an incident on a person's quality of life. This understanding helps adjusters assess claims where the impact of an injury stretches beyond the mere financial implications.