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Punitive damages are compulsory if a court finds a driver liable for causing damages in an auto accident. However, courts order punitive damages on a case-by-case basis. Courts use punitive damages to prevent errant drivers from repeating their mistakes and warn other drivers of similar acts.

Below are some auto accidents that may attract punitive damages.

Hit and Run Accidents

The law requires drivers to wait for the police after an accident. The requirement is especially necessary for accidents that cause property damages or injuries. If you cannot wait (for example, due to injuries), you should report the accident to the police as soon as possible. A driver who doesn't do any of those things is guilty of a hit and run.

You may be able to collect punitive damages against a hit-and-run driver if you or the authorities manage to track them down. The punitive damages award makes sense since the driver:

• Created extra work for the authorities
• Complicated your claim process
• Shows that the driver knew the danger of their actions

The main complication of a hit-and-run case is that you have to find the errant driver first.

DUI Accidents

Intoxication increases the risk of an accident. Driving under the influence is a crime since intoxication:

• Induces drowsiness
• Reduces reaction time
• Impairs judgment

You can get punitive damages in a DUI accident since the driver knew or should have known about the dangers of their actions. Anyone who drinks and drives shows blatant disregard for the law and other road users and deserves punishment.

Racing Accidents

The law prohibits drivers from racing on public roads that other road users also use. Racing is dangerous since:

• It increases the risk of losing control of a car
• It increases stopping distance and time
• It leads to more damages and injuries in case of a crash

Say two friends dare each other to a drag race, and one of them ends up crashing into your car. You can ask the court for punitive damages since the racers knew what their actions could do to other road users but did not care about them.

Intentional Accidents

Apart from gross negligence, intentional actions also attract punitive damages. For example, a driver who intentionally accelerates and crashes into your car's rear deserves punishment. The court can punish such a driver by ordering them to pay you punitive damages.

Contact an auto accident lawyer to handle your auto accident case. The lawyer will help you justify your damages for maximum compensation.