If you experience a personal injury due to someone’s negligent or intentional actions, you can recover money for your losses through compensatory and punitive damages. To better understand what your case may be worth, learn more about the details of each below.

Compensatory Damages

Special

Special damages are a subcategory of compensatory damages. These are typically easy for lawyers to prove because they have specific monetary values. For example, medical and hospital costs, lost income, and the repair or replacement of damaged property are all special damages that can be awarded when someone is found to be at fault.

General

General damages are another subset of compensatory damages. These items are more subjective, which makes them more challenging to calculate in dollars and cents. For example, pain and suffering, loss of use of a limb, reduced quality of life, and loss of companionship are types of general damages. When negotiating settlements, some lawyers and insurance companies consider the total amount of special damages and multiply it by a factor, such as three or four, to help determine the general damages.

Punitive Damages

Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are intended to punish wrongdoers for conduct that’s intentionally harmful or outrageously negligent to deter future acts. Courts rarely award these damages, and when they do, they usually assess them against large corporations that can pay hefty penalties. Punitive damages may be granted in cases of financial fraud or production of defective products that cause substantial harm to the public’s health.

If you experienced a personal injury, see the attorneys at Ozman Law Offices for skilled representation. They’ve built a strong reputation of fighting for clients’ injury claims throughout Walden, NY. Whether they’re negotiating a settlement or trying a case before a jury, their goal is to achieve the best possible result. Visit their website for more on their personal injury services, or call (845) 778-7777 to schedule a consultation today.