Which type of damages refers specifically to tangible losses such as lost wages?

The correct answer is special damages. This type of damages is specifically designed to compensate an individual for tangible losses that can be quantified in monetary terms. Lost wages, medical expenses, property damage, and other measurable financial losses fall under this category.

In contrast, compensatory damages is a broader term that includes both special and general damages. General damages refer to non-tangible losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life, which are not easily quantifiable and do not reflect specific monetary loss like wages. Punitive damages, on the other hand, are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future rather than to compensate the plaintiff for specific losses. Thus, special damages accurately identifies the type of damages that pertains to measurable, tangible losses like lost wages.