There are two main types of personal injury compensation: punitive damages and compensatory damages. Compensatory damages are available in almost all personal injury cases and reimburse you for the costs associated with your injury. Punitive damages punish the party responsible for causing you harm and are awarded by the court if the at-fault party’s actions were especially reckless or negligent.
Examples of compensatory damages include:
medical expenses
lost wages
loss of earning capacity
pain and suffering
loss of enjoyment of life
loss of consortium
lowered quality of life
physical disfigurement and impairment