Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

General damages definition

What does General damages mean? General damages are monetary awards for non‑pecuniary harm that cannot be proved by bills or exact calculation. In practice they cover pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA) in personal injury and clinical negligence, and reputational harm, distress and loss of dignity in defamation and privacy claims. Courts assess them on the evidence and by reference to comparable awards, rather than expenditure. The term is descriptive and developed in case law. In England & Wales, quantum is guided by the Judicial College Guidelines; in Northern Ireland by the Green Book (JSB Guidelines); and in Ireland by the Personal Injuries...

Personal injury general damages beyond PSLA: Smith v Manchester awards, loss of congenial employment, loss of use, ruined holidays, relationship damage, aggravated damages, unnecessary medical treatment

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Practice notes

General damages

General damages encompass non-pecuniary heads of loss, both past and future, which resist exact computation; instead, an appropriate sum is assessed by judgment. In everyday parlance, the expression general damages is often used solely for the award covering pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA), and although this is the most usual head within general damages, it is not the only category. Accordingly, particular care should be taken to ensure both parties involved fully understand precisely what is meant at any given point, especially during the course of settlement negotiations, where clarity about the precise scope is essential. For a more complete explanation, see Practice Note: Common recoverable losses in personal injury cases—What are general damages and special Damages?...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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