Are Punitive Damages Available for Burn Injuries?

If you have been the victim of a burn injury, then you are entitled to a number of damages depending on who was at fault. If the responsible party intentionally burned you or was grossly negligent in the accident, then you may not only receive compensation to cover treatment of the injury available to you, but punitive damages as well.

Punitive damages are essentially just extra cash tacked onto the compensation. They are meant to punish the defendant who acted in a reprehensible manner that caused the accident. If the accident was the fault of a wealthy party, then punitive damages will be higher in order to make them fully feel the responsibility.

However, while punitive damages are easily sought in a case where one party intentionally burned another, they are not always easy to get in cases of gross negligence. Typically grossly negligent burn cases are against manufacturers who, for example, put a product on the market without proper testing. However, in these cases you will find that the defendant is much more likely to settle if a court case could cost them thousands or millions of dollars in punitive damages.

In the hands of a skilled personal injury lawyer, your burn case can not only cover your recovery and any reconstructive surgery you may need, but the punitive damages you receive could help you live a more comfortable life. If you are a victim of a burn injury due to negligence in the Los Angeles area, contact us today to see what the Law Offices of Freeman and Freeman can do to help you.