10.9 Damages: Lost Wages or Benefits is a form of legal compensation for individuals who have suffered a financial loss as a result of an injury or disability. This form of damages may include lost wages, lost benefits, and lost future earning capacity. Lost wages refer to the wages an individual would have earned had they not been injured or disabled, while lost benefits are the non-wage benefits an individual would have received had they been able to stay employed. Lost future earning capacity is the estimated amount of money an individual would have been able to earn over their lifetime had they not been injured or disabled. This type of damages is designed to compensate individuals for their financial losses and to help them get back on their feet after the event.