Which term refers to damages awarded to make a plaintiff whole after injury?

The term that refers to damages awarded to make a plaintiff whole after injury is compensatory damages. Compensatory damages are designed to compensate the injured party for losses suffered due to the wrongful actions of another party. This may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other losses directly related to the injury.

In contrast, punitive damages are awarded not to compensate the plaintiff but to punish the defendant for particularly egregious or reckless behavior and to deter similar conduct in the future. Actual damages is a term often used interchangeably with compensatory damages, but it may refer specifically to tangible losses, failing to encompass broader categories of damages such as emotional distress. Collateral damages generally refer to secondary damages that occur as a consequence of the initial injury or loss but are not the direct focus of compensatory awards. Thus, compensatory damages accurately covers the full scope of what is intended to make a plaintiff whole.