Yes, you may be able to receive punitive damages in a Los Angeles automobile accident case. Typically, accident victims can recover compensation for medical expenses, damage to the vehicle, pain and suffering, and other damages. In some circumstances, the plaintiff may also be entitled to punitive damages.
There are typically two types of damages in a personal injury lawsuit: compensatory and punitive. There are also two types of compensatory damages, economic and non-economic. Economic damages cover actual expenses suffered by the accident victim, including medical bills, property damage, and lost wages. Non-economic damages are more subjective, and can include pain and suffering and emotional distress. Punitive damages are not to compensate the accident victim. Instead, they are designed to punish the person responsible for the accident.
Punitive damages are not awarded in most automobile accident cases. Under special circumstances, however, an accident victim can be awarded punitive damages. If the person responsible for the accident behaved in a willfully reckless manner, punitive damages may be awarded. Standard behavior like normal speeding or running a red light would be considered simple negligence and would not rise to the level necessitating punitive damages. However, if a driver was driving while intoxicated or was driving 100 miles an hour in a school zone and hurt someone, that behavior could rise to the level that would justify punitive damages.
If you have been involved in an automobile accident in Los Angeles and you believe that you should be entitled to punitive damages, you need to speak with an attorney. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule your free consultation.