Reckless drivers can cause very serious injuries. Because the other driver does not see the accident coming, they are more susceptible to severe injury. A person who has been injured through no fault of their own is entitled to seek compensation, and there are two categories of compensatory damages that are seen regularly in this kind of case:
Economic Damages
This category covers the financial loss. The hospitalization costs, the cost of surgery and medical treatment, rehabilitation, ongoing medical expenses, loss of earnings both in the short term and if the victim's long term ability to work suffers.
Non-Economic Damages
This category covers intangible losses such as distress, reduced quality of life, loss of consortium, and any pain and suffering.
There is a third category, punitive damages, which may sometimes be awarded. This category is not intended to compensate the injured person, but rather to punish the person who was responsible for the accident. Punitive damages can be a powerful deterrent against irresponsible behavior.
Punitive damages are rarely awarded in car accident cases because it is hard to prove that there was true recklessness, rather than just negligence. If, however, there is clear evidence of reckless driving, a lawyer may push to show that the person who caused the accident acted with malicious intent or was willfully reckless in their behavior.