Damages in a Georgia personal injury case are determined by the harm the injured person can establish, divided broadly into economic and non-economic losses. The determination rests on the evidence of harm rather than a set formula for the total.
Economic losses track measurable costs. Economic damages reflect quantifiable losses such as medical expenses and lost income, supported by records. Pay stubs and medical bills give these losses a documented footing.
Non-economic losses reflect intangible harm. Non-economic damages address pain, suffering, and diminished enjoyment of life, none of which arrives as a line item, so they are weighed through testimony rather than receipts. The two halves together make up what the claim seeks.
The evidence shapes the result. The total reflects what the injured person can establish about the harm, so the strength of the proof carries real weight. Gaps in that proof can limit recovery as much as the injury allows it.
Determining damages in a Georgia personal injury case turns on economic losses tied to costs, non-economic losses reflecting intangible harm, and the role of the evidence. Because there is no fixed formula for the intangible side, two cases with similar economic losses can resolve very differently depending on how convincingly the lasting effect of the injury is shown.