The awarding of financial compensation in civil cases breaks down into four areas:
Cost of treating the immediate physical or psychological injury
Ongoing medical costs, such as domestic care to recuperate from long-term injuries
Non-economic (pain and loss) damages for psychological or emotional distress
Loss of earnings or superannuation if the incident leaves you unable to work
In some cases, courts have awarded victims “aggravated and exemplary damages”. This usually occurs in special or extreme circumstances when the court wishes to make an example of the defendant.