What type of damage are professional land surveyors liable for when accessing the lands of others for surveying?

Professional land surveyors are primarily liable for actual damages when accessing the lands of others for surveying purposes. Actual damages refer to the real, tangible losses experienced by the landowner due to the surveyor's actions. This can include costs incurred from any physical damage to the property or disturbances that affect the land’s use or value.

In the context of surveying, if a surveyor inadvertently damages property, such as through direct physical alteration or destruction, the landowner may seek compensation for the actual financial loss that resulted from that damage. This principle holds especially true if the surveyor did not have permission to enter the property or was negligent in conducting their work.

Other types of damages, like punitive or emotional damages, do not typically apply in this context. Punitive damages are usually awarded in cases of egregious wrongdoing and are not commonly associated with professional land surveying activities, while emotional damages are related to psychological impact and are less relevant in property access scenarios. Consequential damages refer to indirect losses that flow from the primary damage, which could be harder to quantify in the case of surveying work.