Alright, so let’s talk about this whole “special damages” and “general damages” thing in California, especially when it comes to psychology stuff. It’s a bit of a mess, but I went through it, so I’m gonna share what happened.
First off, I started digging into what these terms even mean. Turns out, “special damages” are the easy ones to figure out. They’re basically anything you can put a dollar amount on. Think doctor’s bills, therapy sessions, that kind of stuff. You got a receipt? It’s probably a special damage. I started collecting all my medical bills and receipts from therapy sessions. It was a pain, but I knew I had to do it to get through this.
Now, “general damages” are trickier. They’re supposed to cover the pain and suffering, the emotional distress, all that mental stuff you go through because of someone else’s actions. There’s no price tag on that, right? So, how do you even prove it? I began documenting my daily struggles. I wrote down how I felt, what I was going through, and how it was affecting my life. It felt weird, but I kept at it.
I learned that California law splits these damages into “economic” and “non-economic” damages. Economic is the same as special damages – the money stuff. Non-economic is the general damages – the pain and suffering. I also found out that I could claim something called “negligent infliction of emotional distress.” That sounded exactly like what I was going through. I felt like I was finally getting somewhere.
The next step was figuring out how to actually use this information. I had all these bills and documents, but what now? I realized I needed to show a direct link between what happened to me and the damages I was claiming. I started piecing together a timeline, matching up my emotional distress with the events that caused it. It was like putting together a messed-up puzzle.
- Started gathering all medical bills and therapy receipts.
- Documented my emotional distress and daily struggles.
- Researched the difference between economic and non-economic damages.
- Learned about “negligent infliction of emotional distress.”
- Created a timeline to connect my distress with the events.
Putting It All Together
So, I had all this evidence, but it still felt overwhelming. I decided to organize everything into categories. On one side, I had all the special damages with their corresponding bills. On the other, I had my journal entries and a detailed account of how my life had changed since the incident. It was tough to relive all of it, but I knew it was important.
In the end, I managed to present a clear picture of what I’d been through. The special damages were straightforward, thanks to the bills. The general damages were harder to quantify, but my detailed documentation helped a lot. It wasn’t easy, and it took a lot of time and effort, but I finally got the compensation I deserved. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
If you’re going through something similar, my advice is to document everything. Keep those receipts, write down your feelings, and don’t be afraid to seek help. It’s a tough process, but you’re not alone, and there’s a way through it.
