A victim and their attorney can not request punitive damages in a lawsuit, meaning that you will not factor these possible awards into the amount that you are seeking. Punitive damages are awarded in personal injury lawsuits in San Diego when the actions of the responsible party are particularly egregious or irresponsible and serve to punish them for their actions. In cases where the defendant is a major corporation or party with significant financial assets, punitive damages may be awarded as a way to ensure that the costs actually feel restrictive.