Like other personal-injury lawsuits, medical malpractice lawsuits in Connecticut can result in the awarding of economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include money that is awarded for monetary losses or expenses that a victim of medical malpractice has incurred or would incur in the future because of a defendant’s negligence. On the other hand, non-economic damages include money that is awarded as compensation for non-monetary losses and injuries that a victim has suffered or would suffer in the future because of a defendant’s negligence.

The economic damages are generally awarded for the following reasons:

• Medical care and expenses incurred for treating injuries, which are result of the defendant’s negligence.
• Lost wages lost due to an injury caused by the defendant’s negligence.
• Loss of future earnings if it is established in court that the defendant’s negligence caused that loss.

The non-economic damages are generally awarded for the following reasons:

• Physical and emotional pain and suffering already experienced as well as the pain and suffering he or she may experience in the future.
• Loss of ability to enjoy activities that he or she enjoys because of the defendant’s negligence.
• Disfigurement, impairment or loss of function if it can be established that this is a result of the defendant’s negligence.
• Aggravation of a pre-existing condition.
• Survivors of a deceased victim of medical malpractice can claim compensation on the grounds of loss of a loved one.
• Consortium damages, which are meant for a victim’s spouse, can also be claimed. This stems from the grounds such as loss of companionship, dependence, reliance, affection and other legally recognized rights that are part of the civil contract of marriage.

Source: CGA.CT.gov, “Damages – Medical Malpractice,” Accessed on Oct. 8, 2014