Heads of Loss and Calculation of Pecuniary Compensation

Legal Article · 12 November 2026
Av. Thomas Andreas Di Constantinople

Pecuniary compensation aims to remedy the loss in financial interests. The heads of loss available depend on the nature of the event. Bodily injury may involve treatment expenses, lost earnings, reduction or loss of working capacity, and impairment of economic prospects; death may involve funeral expenses and loss of support.

Calculation, Interest, and Previous Payments

The connection between the loss and the event and the calculation data must be shown separately for each head. Double counting the same loss under different names must be avoided. The injured person's contribution, applicable reductions, and special provisions must also be assessed.

The amendment entering into force on 31 July 2026 added special provisions to Article 55 of the Turkish Code of Obligations for compensation for loss of working capacity and loss of support. Statutory interest runs from the event date on the amount calculated for the period of known earnings, and from the judgment date on the amount for the period of unknown earnings. A proportional deduction rule applies to payments made in performance before the evidentiary examination begins.

These provisions do not apply without limit to all types of pecuniary loss. The transitional provision of Law No. 7589 applies the amendment to events occurring after its entry into force; previous provisions apply to earlier events. A general interest or deduction calculation must therefore not be made without identifying the event date, head of loss, and payment date together.

Source

Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098, Articles 50–55.

Law No. 7589 (official full text of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye), Article 18, provisional Article 1/9, and Article 26.

This article has been prepared for general legal information purposes.