Punitive damages do not award those injured in automobile accident. In fact, they are unique because of how the award for monetary compensation is handled. In the state of Florida, a punitive case is defined as,“A defendant may be held liable for punitive damages only if the trier of fact, based on clear and convincing evidence, finds that the defendant was personally guilty of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.” One of the main principles of punitive damages is mainly used to punish the person responsible for causing an injury or harm. Most of these cases do not award monetary compensation solely for harm or injuries. Instead, punitive damages are rather for punishing the party for their negligent act.
The key to punitive damages cases is being able to prove negligent conduct. In order to be awarded for punitive damages in an automobile accident, a driver must be found intentionally responsible for their actions. For example, being able to prove the defendant is liable for causing the accident by knowingly engaging in reckless behavior, voluntarily intoxicated, or being the cause of a wrongful deaths accident. As a result, victims are entitled to receiving an award for compensation. Compensation is awarded based on the misconduct of the responsible defendant’s behavior that attributed to the cause of damages.
It’s important to understand the benefits of filing a lawsuit for punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended to punish a defendant for causing injuries that resulted from their behavior. Our personal injury lawyers at Darfoor Law Firm have experience in personal injury cases that can help you with your punitive damage claim. Give us a call at 1-833-DARFOOR (327-3667) for a FREE case review if you have been injured as a result of another person’s negligence.
Hurt in a crash in South Florida? Learn how our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers can help.
Kweku Darfoor is the founder of The Injury Advocates (Darfoor Law Firm, P.A.) and a Florida personal injury attorney with more than a decade of experience representing seriously injured people and their families. This content is for general information and is not legal advice.
