Which damages are tangible losses based on facts?

• A. Special damages
• B. General damages
• C. Punitive damages
• D. Nominal damages

Answer: (A)

The concept here is the distinction between economic (special) damages and non-economic damages. Tangible losses based on facts are special damages because they are actual out-of-pocket costs that can be quantified with receipts and records—things like medical bills, repair or replacement costs, and lost wages. These damages reflect specific, documented amounts tied to what happened. Non-economic damages, by contrast, cover intangible harms such as pain and suffering or emotional distress and are not easily measured in dollars. Punitive damages are meant to punish particularly harmful conduct and aren’t based on the victim’s actual losses, while nominal damages acknowledge a wrong without providing significant compensation. So, the tangible, fact-based losses are the special damages.