Casualty and liability
General damages
General damages compensate for harm that has no fixed invoice value, such as pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment, and are established by argument and evidence rather than arithmetic.
Reviewed September 2026 · Exam outline effective September 1, 2026
In plain English
Some consequences of injury do not come with receipts. Pain, disruption, and diminished quality of life are real harms that cannot be totalled from documents, so they are evaluated rather than calculated.
That evaluative quality is why general damages generate the most negotiation. Two adjusters reviewing the same file may reasonably reach different figures, which is precisely why documentation of the injury and its effects matters.
Why the exam tests it
The special versus general damages split is a standard exam distinction, and questions test whether a candidate can sort listed items into the right category.
The trap
Assuming general damages means the general total of all damages. It refers specifically to non-economic harm, and the documented economic items are special damages.
Worked example
An injured claimant submits medical bills and documentation of lost wages, and also describes months of restricted activity. The bills and wages are special damages; the restriction on daily life is evaluated as general damages.
Full course
Study this with the complete Texas All-Lines course
This concept is covered in depth in the "Compensatory, General & Special Damages" lesson, alongside every other topic on the content outline.
Related terms
- Special damagesSpecial damages are the documented, calculable economic losses flowing from an injury, including medical expenses, lost earnings, and out-of-pocket costs.
- Punitive damagesPunitive damages are awarded to punish especially egregious conduct rather than to compensate a loss, and they are treated differently from compensatory damages under policy language and law.
- Bodily injuryBodily injury is physical harm to a person, including sickness or disease and, where the policy so provides, death resulting from that harm.
- LiabilityLiability is legal responsibility for harm caused to another party, and liability insurance responds to sums the insured becomes legally obligated to pay because of that responsibility.
Compared side by side
Exam topics using this term
- Liability damages categories on the Texas All-Lines examHow the exam sorts documented economic loss, evaluative non-economic harm, and conduct-based punitive awards into three distinct categories.
- Settlement negotiation and releases on the Texas All-Lines examHow a settlement value is built from the coverage analysis and documented damages, and what a release accomplishes.
Sources
- Pearson VUE — Texas Department of Insurance licensing exams
Scheduling, candidate handbook, content outlines, test-center rules, and application timing. Reviewed 2026-07-21.
Requirements, fees, forms, exam details, and deadlines can change. Verify the current rule with the linked authority before scheduling, applying, renewing, or handling a real claim.
For exams on or after September 1, 2026. If your exam is scheduled earlier, use the outline that applies to your exam date. Texas Exam Academy is independent exam preparation and is not affiliated with or approved by the Texas Department of Insurance or Pearson VUE. Verify current eligibility, fees, forms, and requirements with the responsible authority.