Actual damages are designed to compensate for losses that are?

Actual damages refer to monetary compensation awarded to an injured party for losses that are tangible and quantifiable. This category of damages is focused on restoring the injured party to the financial position they would have been in had the wrongful act not occurred. When we describe these damages as "specific and measurable," it indicates that the losses can be clearly identified and calculated, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or property damage.

For example, if a patient incurs hospital bills after receiving negligent care, those bills represent actual damages that can be precisely measured. Similarly, lost income due to an inability to work following an injury can also be calculated in terms of exact dollar amounts.

Other options may touch upon related concepts but do not accurately encapsulate the nature of actual damages. Expected but not yet incurred losses, for instance, might lead to speculative claims that lack concrete evidence. Unforeseen and unavoidable losses could arise in various contexts but do not directly relate to the measurable aspect of actual damages. Emotional and psychological damages typically fall under a different category, often referred to as non-economic damages, which address intangible harm rather than specific, quantifiable financial losses.