When someone is injured in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, Minnesota law allows them to recover compensation for the full impact of those injuries. That compensation is divided into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Understanding the difference between the two is important because each type is calculated differently, and together they determine the total value of your claim.
Economic Damages: The Measurable Costs
Economic damages cover financial losses that can be documented with bills, receipts, pay stubs, and other records. These are sometimes called “special damages,” and they represent the tangible, out-of-pocket costs that your injuries have created.
Medical expenses. This is typically the largest component of economic damages. It includes emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, diagnostic imaging, prescription medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and any future medical care your injuries will require. In serious cases, such as those involving brain injuries or spinal cord damage, future medical costs can far exceed what has already been spent.
Lost wages. If your injuries forced you to miss work, you can recover the income you lost during that time. This includes salary, hourly wages, bonuses, commissions, and any other regular compensation you would have earned.
Lost earning capacity. When injuries are severe enough to change your ability to work going forward, you may be entitled to compensation for reduced earning capacity. This applies when you cannot return to your previous occupation, need to take a lower-paying job, or can no longer work full-time. Vocational assessments and economic projections help establish the value of this loss.
Property damage. In car accident and truck accident cases, the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any personal property damaged in the crash falls under economic damages.
Other out-of-pocket costs. Transportation to and from medical appointments, home modifications to accommodate a disability, household services you can no longer perform yourself, and childcare expenses during recovery are all recoverable as economic damages when they are directly tied to the accident.
Non-Economic Damages: The Human Cost
Non-economic damages compensate for losses that do not come with a receipt. They are sometimes called “general damages,” and they address the ways an injury affects your quality of life, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. Minnesota does not place a cap on non-economic damages in personal injury cases, which means there is no statutory limit on what a jury can award.
Pain and suffering. Physical pain caused by the accident and its aftermath, including the discomfort of surgeries, rehabilitation, and living with chronic pain conditions. Our guide on how pain and suffering is calculated in Minnesota covers this topic in detail.
Emotional distress. Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, sleep disorders, and other psychological effects caused by the accident. These are especially common after violent collisions, dog attacks, and incidents involving serious or disfiguring injuries.
Loss of enjoyment of life. When injuries prevent you from participating in activities you once enjoyed, whether that is playing sports, traveling, gardening, or simply playing with your children, compensation may be available for that diminished quality of life.
Loss of consortium. A spouse or family member may have a separate claim for the loss of companionship, affection, and support that results from a loved one’s serious injury.
Disfigurement and scarring. Visible scars, amputations, and other permanent physical changes carry their own compensable value beyond the medical cost of treating them.
Punitive Damages: When Conduct Is Especially Egregious
In rare cases, Minnesota law allows a third category of damages designed to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior in the future. Under Minn. Stat. § 549.20, punitive damages are available when the defendant’s conduct shows a deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others. This standard is higher than ordinary negligence. Clear and convincing evidence is required.
Punitive damages may come into play in cases involving drunk driving, trucking companies that knowingly allow fatigued or unqualified drivers on the road, or manufacturers that conceal known defects in their products. These damages are not included in the initial complaint. Instead, a party must file a motion and present evidence supporting the claim before a court will allow punitive damages to be pursued.
No Caps on Damages in Minnesota
One important distinction about Minnesota law is that the state does not impose a cap on compensatory damages in personal injury cases. Unlike some states that limit non-economic or punitive damages to a fixed dollar amount, Minnesota allows juries to award whatever amount they determine is fair based on the evidence. This is significant in cases involving catastrophic injuries, where lifetime medical costs, lost earning capacity, and the impact on quality of life can result in substantial awards.
How Damages Are Calculated in Your Case
Every case is different, and the total value of a claim depends on the severity of the injuries, the strength of the evidence, and the degree of fault involved. An attorney can work with medical professionals, economists, and vocational specialists to build a complete picture of your losses, both the ones you can measure today and the ones that will continue into the future.
If you have been hurt in an accident in Eagan, St. Paul, or anywhere in Minnesota, contact Bennerotte & Associates for a free consultation. We can help you understand what your claim may be worth and fight for the full compensation you are owed.
