We Seek Punitive Damages

Our law firm holds the most egregious offenders accountable

In 1974, The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic was founded to help make our community safer by fighting for victims of the negligent actions of others. Since then, our work in Florida and nationwide has led to real progress toward that goal. Many of our cases have resulted in safety reforms and regulations that have prevented future accidents from happening, while also winning fair compensation for our clients to help them rebuild their lives.

Most of the damages (financial compensation) in personal injury cases consist of compensatory damages. That is, the victim is compensated for their losses due to the accident such as medical expenses, lost wages, replacement services and other costs, as well as pain and suffering, lost enjoyment of life and loss of consortium.

But there are cases in which compensatory damages don't go far enough. When the negligence of others is serious enough that we need to send an especially strong message, we will ask the court to award punitive damages.

What are punitive damages?

Punitive damages are financial payments awarded to the plaintiff (that is, the injured person) from the defendant (the person responsible for the injury), just like compensatory damages. However, instead of being intended to reimburse the victim for specific losses, these damages are intended to punish the defendant for particularly reckless, grossly negligent or intentional acts. They are also known as exemplary damages in some jurisdictions.

Some types of cases that may lead to punitive damages include:

• Truck accidents. Pajcic & Pajcic has handled many cases involving trucking companies that committed grossly negligent acts. For example, if the trucking company knew that a truck's brakes or engine needed to be repaired, but did not do so, it made a conscious decision to disregard safety. Likewise, if a trucking company fabricates a background check instead of doing its due diligence to hire safe and qualified operators, punitive damages may be awarded - the trucking company in this example clearly knew that it was doing wrong and fabricated documents to cover up its negligent actions.
• Injuries involving alcohol. Punitive damages are often awarded for injuries caused by drunk or drugged drivers, as driving under the influence is considered an act of gross negligence.
• Patterns of negligence. If a business has repeatedly committed similar acts of negligence, such as serving alcohol to intoxicated patrons or failing to provide adequate security on its premises, punitive damages may be awarded. The court's rationale here is that the business may have decided it is cheaper to pay for any injuries sustained than to actually fix the problem, and punitive damages provide an additional deterrent effect.

Our personal injury attorneys have the legal experience to understand when punitive damages may be in order - and we have the resources and litigation skills needed to effectively advocate for these damages for our clients.