What do general damages provide compensation for?

General damages are intended to provide compensation for non-economic losses that arise from an injury or wrongful act. This includes aspects like pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and disfigurement. These kinds of damages are subjective in nature, meaning they do not have a specific financial value or quantifiable amount associated with them, unlike economic damages, which are easier to calculate, such as medical expenses or lost wages.

In this context, options that discuss financial losses or actual costs incurred do not correctly represent the purpose of general damages. Legal fees are also not covered under general damages, as they do not pertain directly to the harm suffered by the individual but rather to the expenses incurred in pursuing a legal claim. Therefore, the option about pain and suffering and similar subjective losses accurately captures the essence of what general damages seek to compensate.