Punitive damages are an extra type of compensation available to those injured in accidents in which the responsible party acted “wantonly, oppressively, or with such malice as to evince a spirit of malice or criminal indifference to civil obligations.” They are not awarded to compensate injury victims but rather to punish the defendant for acting with such malice or disregard for the safety or lives of others, such as drunk driving accidents. Punitive damages are capped at $350,000 in Virginia personal injury cases.