Punitive damages are sometimes awarded in a personal injury case. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the perpetrator of a personal injury. The goal is to convince the defendant to change his/her harmful behavior through economic punishments.
Punitive damages are not always awarded, and the nature of the wrongdoing that justifies punitive damages is variable and imprecise. Many factors go into determining what amount of compensatory and punitive damages the plaintiff of a personal injury lawsuit should ask for. The guidance of competent, experienced Houston accident attorneys can help victims of personal injury determine the appropriate amount to seek.