Burn victims have the right to pursue economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. Economic damages cover easily quantifiable losses such as medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, and lost wages. Non-economic damages compensate pain and suffering as well as emotional distress resulting from an accident caused by someone else’s negligence.
Finally, punitive damages are awarded to punish an at-fault defendant for particularly egregious behavior and to deter others from acting similarly in the future.