South Carolina Personal Lines Practice Exam

General compensatory damages are associated with which of the following?

1. Lost wages

2. Subjective damages like pain and suffering

3. Medical expenses

4. Property damage

The correct answer is: Subjective damages like pain and suffering

General compensatory damages refer to damages that are intended to compensate a plaintiff for losses that are not easily quantifiable in monetary terms. These damages typically address subjective factors such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic impacts that an injured party has experienced as a result of another person's actions. In this context, subjective damages like pain and suffering fall under the category of general compensatory damages because they focus on the individual's personal experience and emotional suffering rather than objective financial losses. This distinction is crucial in understanding how damages are categorized in personal injury cases. On the other hand, lost wages, medical expenses, and property damage are classified as special or economic damages. These damages can be calculated with specific figures and are associated with tangible financial losses, hence they do not fit into the realm of general compensatory damages, which address more intangible losses.