What are punitive damages often aimed at doing?

Punitive damages are financial penalties awarded in a lawsuit that are primarily intended to punish the defendant for particularly egregious or reckless behavior. Unlike compensatory damages, which are designed to reimburse the victim for actual losses or injury, punitive damages serve a different purpose. They aim to deter the defendant and others in society from engaging in similar misconduct in the future by sending a strong message that such behavior will have serious financial consequences.

This concept is rooted in the idea that the judicial system should not only provide compensation for harm but also contribute to the social order by discouraging wrongdoing. Therefore, when a jury or judge awards punitive damages, they are explicitly recognizing that the defendant's actions were not just harmful, but also deserving of additional punishment beyond what is necessary to compensate the victim. This focus on accountability and deterrence is what sets punitive damages apart from other types of damages in the legal system.