4 ms·

One thing that shocked me when going to the US, that still shocks me now, are those adds: "Injured? Cellino & Barnes". Apparently, when you're injured in the U

One thing that shocked me when going to the US, that still shocks me now, are those adds: "Injured? Cellino & Barnes". Apparently, when you're injured in the US, the first thing to do is not go to the hospital, but call your lawyer. I'm not sure what to think of it, but it does make me feel uneasy.

sonthonax 9y ago
America's courts unlike the UK routinely award punitive damages. Suing someone for causing you injury in the UK may only net you the cost of your medical bills (which might be negligible) and the cost of missed work.
- loup-vaillant 9y ago
  Given the US health care system, I understand why someone might need punitive damages.
  - dsfyu404ed 9y ago
    Needing punitive damages is a contradiction by definition. If you could show injury then they would be normal damages The point of punitive damages is that they're not necessary to compensate the injured party but to send a message that a certain behavior is not acceptable. For example: "$person was burned by your hot coffee so we're awarding them $smallnumber for medical expenses, lost wages, suffering, etc. and $bignumber in punitive damages because you shouldn't be serving coffee that hot in that manner in the first place"
    - loup-vaillant 9y ago
      I know what "punitive damages" mean. I was just pointing out that in the US, one might lose one's ability to get health insurance at all because of an injury (many conditions will cause most insurance company to refuse your application). The possible prejudice for that can range in the millions. Even if those aren't punitive, they sure feel like it.
      - dsfyu404ed 9y ago
        >I was just pointing out that in the US, one might lose one's ability to get health insurance at all because of an injury (many conditions will cause most insurance company to refuse your application). That is no longer true as a result of the ACA.
        loup-vaillant 9y ago
        I didn't know about the affordable care act, that's wonderful news! Anyway, I stand corrected, thanks.

sonthonax 9y ago

America's courts unlike the UK routinely award punitive damages. Suing someone for causing you injury in the UK may only net you the cost of your medical bills (which might be negligible) and the cost of missed work.

loup-vaillant 9y ago
Given the US health care system, I understand why someone might need punitive damages.
- dsfyu404ed 9y ago
  Needing punitive damages is a contradiction by definition. If you could show injury then they would be normal damages The point of punitive damages is that they're not necessary to compensate the injured party but to send a message that a certain behavior is not acceptable. For example: "$person was burned by your hot coffee so we're awarding them $smallnumber for medical expenses, lost wages, suffering, etc. and $bignumber in punitive damages because you shouldn't be serving coffee that hot in that manner in the first place"
  - loup-vaillant 9y ago
    I know what "punitive damages" mean. I was just pointing out that in the US, one might lose one's ability to get health insurance at all because of an injury (many conditions will cause most insurance company to refuse your application). The possible prejudice for that can range in the millions. Even if those aren't punitive, they sure feel like it.
    - dsfyu404ed 9y ago
      >I was just pointing out that in the US, one might lose one's ability to get health insurance at all because of an injury (many conditions will cause most insurance company to refuse your application). That is no longer true as a result of the ACA.
      - loup-vaillant 9y ago
        I didn't know about the affordable care act, that's wonderful news! Anyway, I stand corrected, thanks.