What type of damages might cover expenses due to mental anguish or loss of companionship?

Compensatory damages are designed to compensate a party for losses suffered as a result of another party's actions. They include both economic and non-economic losses. In this context, expenses related to mental anguish or loss of companionship fall into the category of non-economic damages, which are part of compensatory damages.

Mental anguish represents the emotional distress a person may suffer due to another's wrongful act, while loss of companionship (often referred to as loss of consortium) pertains to the deprivation of the benefits of a loving relationship. Both of these are intended to make the injured party "whole" again by recognizing the significant impact that emotional and relational suffering has on their life.

Other types of damages, such as special damages, are typically concrete financial losses that can be easily quantified, like medical bills or lost wages, and do not cover emotional or personal loss. Punitive damages, on the other hand, are monetary awards that go beyond mere compensation and are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct, rather than to reimburse a party for a specific loss or suffering. General liability typically refers to the broad area of legal responsibility for various types of claims and does not specifically pertain to damages for personal suffering. Thus, compensatory damages most accurately encompasses