What Is the Difference Between Compensatory and Punitive Damages?

Posted on behalf of RizkLaw on Dec 21, 2023 in Personal Injury

Individuals who have been injured in a personal injury accident due to the actions of a negligent party have the legal right to pursue damages for their losses. To recover damages, one must file a personal injury claim. When filing your personal injury claim, your lawyer can help you understand the difference between damages like compensatory and punitive damages. Additionally, a lawyer can inform you of whether you qualify to recover these damages and how much you may be eligible for.

Rizk Law is an Oregon personal injury law firm with extensive experience helping clients who have fallen victim to the negligence of another party whose actions led to their injuries and losses. If you have suffered harm due to a personal injury accident, it is important you understand the difference between compensatory and punitive damages before filing your claim and pursuing justice.

Understanding the Difference Between Compensatory and Punitive Damages

There are two types of damages that may be awarded to the victim of a personal injury accident. These are compensatory and punitive damages. When filing a personal injury claim, it is important that you understand the difference between these two damages and whether you qualify to recover them for your case.

Compensatory Damages

Compensatory damages are intended to compensate victims for actual losses. These damages can include the following:

Medical expenses
Lost wages
Property damage
Pain and suffering

Your lawyer can help you calculate how much you may be eligible to recover in compensatory damages by reviewing the details of your case.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages aim to punish the party that committed the negligent acts that led to your injuries. This type of damage is often applied in cases involving companies or large entities that have acted negligently. Some common personal injury cases that seek punitive damages include medical malpractice or product liability cases.

It is important to note that punitive damages are not designed to compensate the victim. The main purpose of punitive damages is to deter others from engaging in similar wrongful behavior that led to the personal injury incident. However, the victim will still receive the compensation.

When it comes to compensatory and punitive damages, the main difference is their intended effects on the two opposing sides of a personal injury claim. While compensatory damages are intended to help the injured victim, punitive damages are meant to penalize the at-fault party and discourage similar behavior in the future. For more information regarding the different types of damages you can recover from a personal injury claim, contact an experienced lawyer today.

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help?

Aside from helping you understand the different damages you may be eligible to recover, a trusted personal injury lawyer can provide various benefits throughout the claims process. To ensure you are able to build a strong claim, it is important you work with a personal injury lawyer who will offer the following:

Experience handling Oregon personal injury claims
Substantial experience working with victims of personal injury accidents and their families
Answers to all questions regarding your personal injury case
Personalized legal services
Help collecting the necessary evidence for your case
Zealous advocacy on behalf of you in your fight for justice

To begin the process of filing your personal injury claim, contact a personal injury lawyer today.

Pursue Fair Compensation for Your Oregon Personal Injury Case Today

Rizk Law is a personal injury law firm with extensive experience providing clients in Oregon with the trusted legal help they deserve after suffering losses in a personal injury accident. We believe that no one should have to go through the personal injury claims process alone.

To get help from one of our trusted personal injury lawyers and to learn more about the different types of damages you may be eligible to recover, contact us here or call (503) 245-5677 for a free case review.

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