Personal Injury Cases: Who’s Entitled to Punitive Damages?

There are several different types of monetary compensations you can seek when you or a loved one have been personally injured as a result of another’s negligence. Whether you are injured in a car accident, on the job, while walking in a shopping center, or physically assaulted by an assailant, you have certain legal rights which entitle you to require the other party to pay for your injuries and related expenses.

Some of the more common types of compensations one can be awarded as part of their personal injury settlement or case could include:

• Medical Care and Treatment Expenses
• Loss of Current and Future Earnings
• Pain and Suffering
• Support for Family and Children
• Funeral Expenses

These types of compensation are often considered “typical” with personal injury claims. The fourth type of special compensation one could also be awarded is called punitive damages. The purpose of this type of compensation is when the court feels that the responsible party should be punished for being negligent.

Punitive damages are used to serve as a warning to other people or companies that engage in similar negligent behaviors. Keep in mind, the court will consider punitive damages only if the defendant exhibited certain types of behaviors which further contributed to one’s personal injuries.

To learn more about punitive damages and when they could be awarded as part of a personal injury settlement or lawsuit, we encourage you to continue reviewing the following infographic.

If a loved one or you were injured as a result of another’s negligence, find out if you could have grounds to seek punitive damages and other types of compensation by contacting Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers directly to speak with one of our qualified personal injury lawyers today!