What Are Punitive Damages in Massachusetts?

When you suffer an injury after being involved in an accident, you might be wondering what you should do next. How will you go about securing compensation from the person or persons who are responsible for causing your accident?

The best way to get your costs covered is by working with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Massachusetts who can help you get the most out of your civil claim.

Calculating the value of your lawsuit can be quite complex, as there are a number of different types of damages that should be taken into consideration. Below, we review these types of damages and when punitive damages are awarded.

Types of Losses in a Personal Injury Claim

There are many kinds of losses that can be included in your claim, which are often categorized as either economic or non-economic damages. Your economic damages category will include areas of your life that have been impacted financially, such as medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and the damage to your earning capacity.

You will also be able to include your non-economic damages. Here, you can secure compensation for the ways the accident has affected your lifestyle and psychological state. Such losses might include one or more of the following:

• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Inconvenience
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship and love
• Effects of scarring or disfigurement
• Loss of household services
• Emotional distress

It will be up to your attorney to examine every single way your life has been diminished by your injuries so that you can obtain the funds you deserve.

The Purpose of Punitive Damages

The other portion of your potential award could be punitive damages. These are not awarded in every personal injury case. In fact, the judge will only award a sum of punitive damages if the defendant acted egregiously. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the wrongdoer more than the compensatory damages they’ll already be required to pay.

In doing so, the judge hopes to make an example of them and prevent other individuals from making similar mistakes in the future. If the judge awards you punitive damages, you can expect your final award to be increased dramatically.

Reach Out to a Massachusetts Personal Injury Lawyer

Suffering an injury that could have been prevented if it weren’t for the negligence of another feels stressful and unfair. Don’t let yourself get stuck with the costs. Your Massachusetts personal injury lawyer at Joel H. Schwartz, PC will do whatever it takes to obtain full compensation for your losses.

You can schedule a free claim evaluation today by calling our office at 1-800-660-2270 or by completing the convenient contact form we’ve included below.