Compensation can be provided for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering, and in extreme cases punitive damages. These categories include both past and future medical expenses, past and future lost earnings, and past and future pain and suffering. Punitive damages are only allowed in the most extreme of cases where the injury was caused by someone’s reckless conduct. The purpose of punitive damages is to dissuade the defendant and others from acting with that level of recklessness again.