Damages chart

It is important to be able to estimate the value of your case. Tort reform notwithstanding, most jurisdictions still permit recovery for traditional elements of economic and non-economic loss. Even jurisdictions that have restricted damages have usually done so by placing limits on the amount that can be recovered for a specific element of damages (i.e., pain and suffering), not by eliminating these elements entirely. At the same time, certain jurisdictions have enlarged the traditional areas of recovery by recognizing categories of damages, such as “loss of enjoyment of life,” in addition to the traditional categories.

The following chart itemizes damages:

Category of Recovery	Typical Elements	Evidence and Documentary Support
Medical Expenses	ambulance, emergency medical treatment, physicians’ bills, diagnostic testing, hospital and health care provider bills, home health care, medical devices, prescription drugs and prosthetics	medical reports, records, invoices, receipts and statements
Lost Earnings/Lost Earning Capacity	time off from work, reduced income during recovery, reduced or diminished perquisites, reduced health benefits, impact on existing occupation, lost or diminished work expectancy	tax returns, W-2 and W-4 statements, 1099s, work and payroll records, company benefit, pension and health plans
Other Economic Loss	child/elder care, transportation expenses, property damage, vehicle towing, storage and rental charges, lodging expenses, disability and handicapped accommodation expenses, (e.g., major home remodeling projects to accommodate wheelchairs, etc.)	receipts, invoices, contracts, repair bills, credit card statements
Non-Economic Loss	pain and suffering, scarring, loss of consortium, companionship, reduced life expectancy, loss of enjoyment of life	personal injury diaries, electronic diaries, functional status tests, photographs, videotapes, day-in-the-life films and testimony