blog home Personal Injury What’s the Difference Between Economic and Non-Economic Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Georgia?

What’s the Difference Between Economic and Non-Economic Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Georgia?

By Grant Law Office on December 20, 2025

When someone is injured in an accident, the costs can add up quickly. Calculating economic losses like hospital bills or time missed from work is pretty straightforward. But it’s more difficult to put a dollar value on non-economic losses, such as ongoing pain, anxiety, or the inability to participate in activities you once enjoyed.

The Atlanta personal injury lawyers at Grant Law Office understand how Georgia law views economic and non-economic damages and how to get the highest compensation you deserve for your injury case.

What Are Damages?

In personal injury law, damages refers to the money awarded to an injured person as compensation for losses caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. Damages are intended to make the victim whole again, to the extent money can do so.

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover the measurable, out-of-pocket financial losses an injured person suffers. These are easier to document and prove because they typically involve bills, receipts, and pay stubs.

Common Examples of Economic Damages

Medical Expenses

• Emergency room visits
• Surgeries and hospital stays
• Prescription medications
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Future medical treatment (such as ongoing care or additional surgeries)

Lost Wages Claims

• Income lost during recovery
• Missed promotions, bonuses, or commissions
• Reduced earning capacity if injuries prevent returning to the same type of work

Property Damage

• Vehicle repairs or replacement after a collision
• Replacement of personal belongings damaged in the accident

Other Out-of-Pocket Costs

• Transportation to medical appointments
• Hiring childcare or household help during recovery

Because economic damages are backed by documentation, they are often the starting point for negotiations in a personal injury case.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages cover the harder-to-measure consequences of an injury. These are very real harms, but they don’t come with invoices or pay stubs. Instead, they are evaluated based on testimony, expert opinions, and how the injury impacts a person’s daily life.

Common Examples of Non-Economic Damages

Pain and Suffering

• Chronic physical pain
• Discomfort caused by medical treatments
• The impact of living with permanent injuries

Emotional Distress

• Anxiety, depression, or PTSD following an accident
• Sleep disturbances or mood changes
• Loss of confidence or self-esteem

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

• Inability to participate in hobbies, sports, or social activities you once loved

How Georgia Law Treats Economic vs Non-Economic Damages

In Georgia, there are no statutory caps on non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. This means juries can award amounts they believe are fair, based on the evidence.

The state uses a comparative negligence system, meaning your damages can be reduced if you are found partially at fault for the accident. For example, if your total damages are $100,000 but you are 20 percent at fault, you would recover $80,000.

Proving Economic Damages

Since economic damages involve financial losses, proving them requires strong documentation, such as:

• Medical bills, records, and expert testimony about future treatment needs
• Employer statements, tax records, or pay stubs for lost wages claims
• Receipts for property repairs or replacement costs

Personal injury lawyers often work with financial experts to project long-term financial losses, especially in cases involving permanent disability or reduced earning capacity.

Proving Non-Economic Damages in Georgia

Proving non-economic damages is more challenging because they involve subjective experiences. Attorneys use a combination of evidence to build a compelling case:

• Victim testimony about daily struggles and lifestyle changes
• Family and friend testimony describing personality shifts or emotional trauma
• Medical or psychological evaluations
• Journals documenting pain levels, anxiety, or lost enjoyment

Why Both Types of Injury Compensation Matter

Many accident victims focus only on medical bills and lost income when thinking about compensation. But ignoring pain and suffering damages or other non-economic harms can leave you undercompensated.

Consider two examples:

• A broken arm may involve $15,000 in medical bills and six weeks of missed work, which are clear economic damages. But if the injury leaves lasting pain or prevents you from returning to a favorite activity like playing the piano, non-economic damages can address that loss.
• A severe burn may require years of treatment, skin grafts, and psychological counseling. Here, economic damages cover the surgeries and lost wages, while non-economic damages compensate for the daily pain, scarring, and emotional toll.

A complete personal injury claim must account for both categories to ensure true justice.

The Role of an Experienced Injury Lawyer

Insurance companies often downplay non-economic damages, suggesting they are subjective or inflated. Adjusters may offer to pay only medical bills and a fraction of lost wages. Without strong legal advocacy, victims risk accepting far less than they deserve.

An experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer can:

• Accurately calculate both economic and non-economic damages
• Work with medical and financial experts to project long-term costs
• Present persuasive evidence of pain and suffering damages
• Negotiate aggressively with insurers
• Take the case to trial if fair compensation is not offered

Reasons to Choose Our Firm

At Grant Law Office, our husband and wife law team has over 60 years of combined experience preparing strong, evidence-based cases that fully reflect the losses our clients suffer. We know how to counter insurance company strategies and present the human story behind the numbers.

Wayne Grant is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for personal injury law and has an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He is listed by Super Lawyers based on peer reviews and independent research.

Speak With a Trusted Personal Injury Attorney in Atlanta

If you’ve been injured in Atlanta, don’t let insurance companies reduce your recovery by minimizing your injuries. At Grant Law Office, we take the time to understand the full scope of your losses, so we can build a case that demands fair compensation.

Call (404) 995-3955 to schedule your free consultation today.