North Carolina law allows car accident victims to pursue two categories of compensation. Economic damages cover quantifiable financial losses: emergency and ongoing medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, vehicle repair or replacement costs, and other out-of-pocket losses. Non-economic damages compensate for losses that are harder to quantify: physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact on personal relationships. In cases involving egregious misconduct, such as drunk driving or extreme recklessness, North Carolina courts may also award punitive damages designed to punish the wrongdoer.