What type of damages would be awarded for lost wages?

The type of damages awarded for lost wages is classified as special damages. Special damages are intended to compensate an injured party for quantifiable losses that are directly tied to their injury or damage, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and repair costs. These types of damages are typically calculable to a certain extent and are aimed at restoring the individual to the financial position they were in prior to the loss.

In the case of lost wages, this refers specifically to the income that a person would have earned had the injury or incident not occurred. This component can easily be calculated based on past earnings, and thus falls under the category of special damages, since it addresses specific financial losses incurred as a result of the relevant incident.

In contrast, general damages refer to losses that are not easily quantifiable, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship. Punitive damages are awarded not to compensate for losses, but to punish a wrongdoer for particularly egregious behavior and deter similar conduct in the future. Compensatory damages is a broader term that includes both general and special damages, but since the question specifically focuses on lost wages, special damages is the most precise classification.