Why There Is No Cap on Pain & Suffering Damages in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has no cap on compensatory damages, and it is the constitution, not just the legislature, that says so.
No cap on compensatory damages
In Pennsylvania there are no general caps on compensatory or non-economic damages in standard personal injury cases.
The constitutional bar
Article III, Section 18 of the Pennsylvania Constitution provides that the General Assembly may limit recovery only in workers' compensation cases; in no other cases may it limit the amount recovered for injuries resulting in death, or for injuries to persons or property.
Medical malpractice
Pennsylvania does not have caps on economic or noneconomic medical malpractice damages. Punitive damages are capped at 200% of compensatory damages in malpractice claims against individual physicians, with no limit against hospitals, and 25% of any punitive award goes to the MCARE Fund.
Punitive damages
Outside malpractice, punitive damages are not capped by statute but must be proportionate to compensatory damages.
Where the limits are
Limits come from the auto insurance choice of limited tort, the 50% fault bar and the Fair Share Act's several-liability rule, covered on the other pages.
A local personal injury attorney can review your claim — many offer a free consultation.
Official sources
This is general information, not legal advice, and the state comparisons above are illustrative, not an exhaustive survey. Confirm how Pennsylvania's rules apply to your specific case with a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.