Georgia law also allows for punitive damages if the liable party acted egregiously, for example, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Rideshare drivers who knowingly drive a defective vehicle can also be liable for paying the victim punitive damages.
Punitive damages only apply in cases where the at-fault party’s actions show willful misconduct, malice, fraud, or wantonness, revealing a conscious indifference to consequences. As opposed to compensable damages that compensate victims for their damages, punitive damages punish, penalize, or deter the at-fault party.
