The economic loss doctrine helps courts decide whether damages from a defective product should be handled through contract or tort law. If a product causes personal injury, it's usually a tort case. But for economic or non-economic damages, the doctrine comes into play. Economic losses, like lost profits or repair costs, are typically recovered through contracts. Non-economic losses, like pain and suffering, are usually handled in tort cases. It can get tricky when a product causes property damage, as the distinction between economic and non-economic losses becomes blurred. Overall, the economic loss doctrine helps determine how to seek compensation for different types of damages caused by a faulty product.