What is the difference between compensatory and punitive damages?
When someone is injured due to another’s negligence, compensatory or “actual” damages may be available to compensate the injured person for actual losses, such as medical bills and property damage. Punitive or exemplary damages can be awarded to punish a wrongdoer for their intentional or reckless conduct that caused injury or loss to another. In most states, there is a cap on the amount of punitive damages that may be awarded. What is pure comparative negligence and how is it used in Florida? Florida is a state that follows the doctrine of comparative negligence (sometimes referred to as comparative fault). When this doctrine is followed in a personal injury case, the compensation awarded to the injured person is based on the amount of fault attributed to the injured as compared to the amount of fault attributed to the defendant. In other words, if a plaintiff was 20% at fault when he or she sustained an injury, damages awarded from the defendant/wrongdoer will be reduced by 20%. What
