What’s the Difference Between Compensatory and Punitive Damages?
After an accident occurs, you may suffer from severe injuries and damages. If someone else’s negligence caused your accident, you can seek compensation for your losses from the responsible party. You can recover property damages, medical fees, and other financial losses that you suffer from after an accident by filing an injury claim.
Filing a personal injury claim is complicated and comes with unfamiliar terminology and processes. If you’re looking to increase your chances of recovering the compensation you are eligible for, contact a personal injury lawyer. They can help navigate you through the legal documentation, conduct a thorough investigation, and discuss your eligibility for compensatory and punitive damages.
Compensatory vs. Punitive Damages: What You Need to Know
When you are looking to recover the damages you suffered during an accident, you will need to know about the two different types of damages you can recover. Understanding what makes these types of damages separate and what you are interested in recovering is a critical first step in formulating your plan.
Compensatory Damages
Designed to assist with the cost of injuries and damages sustained in the accident, compensatory damages benefit and focus on the plaintiff’s recovery. If you break your leg in a car accident and are unable to work for eight weeks, the financial toll that you can endure due to lost income and medical fees can start to add up. Compensatory damages are calculated by adding the financial losses as well as subjective (non-economic) damages like pain and suffering to make sure you’re fully compensated.
Punitive Damages
While compensatory damages focus on the plaintiff and their losses, punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant for their actions. The damages also seek to deter the defendant from committing the negligent act again. When a court decides that a defendant’s conduct merits an additional award to the plaintiff beyond their compensatory damages, punitive damages are used.
After an accident, the medical treatment and recovery fees can feel overwhelming. With the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney, you’ll have access to honest advice and information about what types of damages you are eligible to recover when you file your claim.
Why Should I Seek Assistance from a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Having a motivated individual by your side to help you receive the best possible outcome for your claim can make the legal process feel manageable and less daunting. While you may have no experience in the legal field, a knowledgeable lawyer can provide you with the necessary information for your claim. Other examples of what an attorney can do for you include:
- Conducting a fair and just investigation
- Answering questions relating to your case
- Analyzing potential legal issues
- Negotiating settlement offers
- Discussing claims with insurance companies
- Reviewing legal documents
- Establishing the other individual’s negligence and liability
With someone by your side every step of the way, you’re able to feel prepared and hopeful for a positive outcome. Our team at Younglove Law Group has many favorable testimonials and results from past clients. We work hard to show how much our clients mean to us.
Contact a Dependable Personal Injury Lawyer at Younglove Law
Accidents come with many responsibilities and tasks. The help of an experienced personal injury attorney at Younglove Law Group can offer dependable legal representation for your claim. With years of experience advocating for the rights of our clients, we’ve recovered more than $40 million in settlements and jury verdicts. Our main goal is to make sure you have reliable legal assistance so your claim has the best possible outcome.
Call (949) 691-3660 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation today.
