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If you are injured because another party was acting negligently or behaving maliciously toward you, then you may have the right to claim damages. Damages is a term that refers to monetary compensation awarded to the plaintiff during a successful civil lawsuit. They must be paid by the offending party.

Damages serve to reimburse any physical injuries, emotional damage, or property loss resulting from the offender’s actions. They may also be used to punish the party at fault.

Compensatory, or actual, damages refers to the money awarded to the claimant in order to compensate him or her for actual damage suffered. They cover the costs of medical bills, damaged or lost property, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Actual damages also include liquidated damages, which reimburses one for losses suffered from a breach of contract. This amount is specified in the contract itself.

Punitive damages do not serve the purpose of reimbursing the plaintiff for any losses that he or she suffered. Instead, they are awarded in order to punish the offender for his or her poor actions. The hope is that they successfully reform and deter the offender from taking the same, negligent course of action in the future.

If you would like to learn more about the different types of damages, or if you have suffered a personal injury as the result of another party’s negligence, then the St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers of Beltz & Ruth, P.A. can help. Contact us today by calling 800-931-4369.