What are punitive and compensatory damages?

Damages are the amounts of money a defendant may be ordered to pay the plaintiff in a personal injury claim. They are usually compensatory, meaning they are intended to compensate the plaintiff for financial or personal losses. These can include medical bills, emotional suffering, and more.

In some cases, the jury decides that the defendant was grossly (or severely) negligent, and was not adequately punished by paying compensatory damages. They may then decide to add punitive damages to the defendant’s penalty. These are meant to ensure that the defendant will not commit the offense again.

For more information, contact Jacksonville personal injury lawyer Don Guthrie, PA at 904-493-6455.