Who Collects Punitive Damages?
When an offender’s actions can be proven to be malicious or to blatantly disregard the safety of the plaintiff, the victim/plaintiff in a case may be awarded punitive damages. Compensatory and punitive damages are not mutually exclusive, and in many personal injury claims victims are awarded both. Even though a victim may be fully compensated for his or her injuries with the award of compensatory damages, he or she may also recover punitive damages as a sort of incentive for the financial risk of filing suit.
