Compensatory damages reimburse you for actual losses caused by your injury — medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life. These are available in every successful personal injury case. Punitive damages are different: they punish the defendant for especially reckless or egregious conduct, like drunk driving. Under C.R.S. § 13-21-102, punitive damages in Colorado generally cannot exceed the amount of compensatory damages awarded, though courts can treble the award in extreme cases. Punitive damages are not available in ordinary negligence claims.
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Laws Protecting You Against Negligent Employers in Colorado
The Colorado government has laws in place that protect the state’s hard-working employees. As a worker in The Centennial State, you have a plethora of rights and protections under several…
Personal Injury
Burden of Proof Proving Fault in a Personal Injury Case
In Colorado, victims who suffer harm as the result of negligence have the legal right to file personal injury claims in order to recover their damages. Aside from certain instances…
Personal Injury
Things That Could Sabotage Your Injury Claim
After suffering a personal injury as the result of a person’s negligent actions, you will need to file a claim to pursue monetary compensation. There are many mistakes that you…
Personal Injury
Ordinary Negligence vs. Gross Negligence in Personal Injury Cases
When Negligence Leads to Injury If someone’s carelessness caused your injury, your case likely involves negligence. But not all negligence is the same. In some situations, the at-fault party’s behavior…