Here at Golitko & Daly, we believe in helping workers and their families. Our construction accident attorneys will never buckle in the face of big business or other parties of influence. That’s why so many accident victims and their loved ones have come to our firm. Our knowledge of Indiana labor law and workplace injury statutes makes us powerful allies to the injured, and we will always seek just damages against those who hav
e caused a serious accident to befall one of their workers.
In the legal process, there are different types of damages you can seek when pursuing justice for a work injury. Punitive damages are one type that victims and their lawyers should consider.
About Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are sought in a civil lawsuit in excess of compensatory damages. They are typically awarded in order to punish the negligent party and further award the victim(s) given the nature of the accident.
How Punitive Damages Differ from Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages refer to a monetary award that is based on the actual losses experienced in the case, such as medical bills, damaged property, lost wages, lost future earnings, and so forth. Also included in compensatory damages is an assessment of pain and suffering.
While not technically linked to actual losses, punitive damages account for matters that go beyond these material losses. The nature of the offense will often define the nature of the punitive damages.
Assessing the Amount of Punitive Damages
There are different ways to assess punitive damages in a legal case. For one, lawyers and legal professionals may look at cases with similar circumstances as those involving their client. Similar cases can serve as a good general guideline when seeking punitive damages.
Ultimately, pun
itive damages are assessed by considering the nature of the case and how egregious or negligent the offense was. If the negligent party was a large construction company or contracting company and the incident endangered many people, the punitive damages may be especially high.
An Example of Punitive Damages In Action
Say that a major crane accident occurs that results in the deaths of three construction workers. Compensatory damages will cover their funerary costs, pain and suffering, and lost earnings, helping their families cover actual losses associated with their deaths.
Let’s say the crane accident was the result of negligent practices by the construction company, poor maintenance of the crane, and/or overloading its weight capacity. These kinds of actions do not have a monetary value attached to them, even though they demonstrate negligence. A full assessment of the case and company’s history may reveal a history of OSHA and IOSHA violations that have made the company especially dangerous to their workers. This irresponsibility cannot go unpunished.
Punitive damages are sought in order to address such matters. These damages will be awarded to the loved ones of the deceased to help them move forward with their lives. In addition, punitive damages will send a message to the industry that negligent actions will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences. There is the potential to reform the industry and make things better for people in the future.
Speak with Our Team of Construction Attorneys
For more information about your options following a serious injury or accident, contact our construction accident and workplace injury attorneys. The legal team at Golitko & Daly is here to help you in your time of legal need.
