what are special damages

Special damages, also known as consequential damages, are damages that can be proven to have occurred because of the failure of one party to meet a contractual obligation or a breach of contract. Special damages are compensation for expenses incurred due to an injury caused by someone elses negligence. They are also called economic damages because precise dollar amounts are associated with each item. Special damages can include things like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage caused by a defendants negligence or intentional wrongdoing. In contrast, general damages compensate a plaintiff for intangible things that are truly felt but invisible and highly subjective, such as emotional distress. In contract law, special damages refer to irregular damages such as physical injuries during a breach of contract, while general damages would refer to the damages expected from the contract being breached. Special damages are unique because no other plaintiff would have the precise amount of financial losses.