What type of damages is awarded to punish the tortfeasor?

Punitive damages are a specific type of damages awarded in civil cases to punish the tortfeasor for particularly egregious or wrongful conduct. The primary purpose of punitive damages is to deter the wrongdoer—and others—from committing similar acts in the future. Rather than simply compensating the victim for their losses, punitive damages serve as a form of retribution against the party that caused harm.

This distinction is crucial in understanding the function of punitive damages. They go beyond compensatory damages, which are intended to make the injured party whole by covering actual losses such as medical expenses or property damage. In contrast, the goal of punitive damages is to address the severity of the actions of the tortfeasor and to act as a societal warning against such behavior.

Other types of damages, like consequential damages, are awarded for losses that occur as a secondary result of the tort, while statutory damages are set by law rather than determined by the specifics of the case. Compensatory damages focus solely on reimbursement for actual losses incurred, reaffirming the unique role that punitive damages play in the legal system.