If you get hurt in an accident due to someone else’s carelessness, you may be able to file a personal injury case against them to recover your losses. With the help of a compensation award, a personal injury lawsuit aims to make you whole again and return you to your former condition as best as possible.
In a personal injury lawsuit, there are two types of damages that are typically recoverable, including:
- Compensatory
- Punitive
Read on to learn some things you may not know about compensatory and punitive damages in a personal injury case.
Compensatory vs. Punitive Damages
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are meant to provide you with compensation for the actual monetary losses you’ve incurred as a result of an injury. These damages are usually relatively easy to calculate, and typically include:
- Expenses for current and future medical bills,
- Rental car receipts
- Lost wages
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongful party for their negligent actions as well as to set an example for the future to show how much it can cost a person to act negligently in a similar manner.
Unfortunately, punitive damages can be difficult to calculate. Typical punitive damages in a personal injury case include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
We’re Here to Help Injured Victims
If you’ve been hurt in an accident as a result of another’s negligent actions, you deserve justice. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our skilled team right away to learn more about the punitive damages that may be available in your case. Our team has helped many other people just like you, and we intend to do everything we can to help you too.
Call our firm today at (512) 400-3278 or fill out the online contact form to learn more about your legal options.
