Which term refers to the monetary losses for medical expenses due to an accident?

The term that refers to the monetary losses for medical expenses due to an accident is special damages. Special damages are designed to compensate an injured party for quantifiable monetary losses that can be exactly calculated. This includes expenses such as medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and other tangible financial losses incurred as a direct result of the injury.

General damages, in contrast, refer to non-economic losses that cannot be easily quantified, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life. Punitive damages are awarded not to compensate the injured party but to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct, making them unrelated to the actual expenses incurred. Nominal damages are symbolic damages awarded when a legal wrong has occurred but no actual financial loss has been proven.

By identifying special damages as the correct answer, it emphasizes the importance of accurately compensating victims for verifiable economic losses stemming from their injuries.