Memorandum: In this action arising out of a motor vehicle accident, plaintiff appeals from that part of an order granting defendants' motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal of plaintiff's claim for punitive damages. "Punitive damages are warranted where the conduct of the party being held liable evidences a high degree of moral culpability, or where the conduct is so flagrant as to transcend mere carelessness, or where the conduct constitutes willful or wanton negligence or recklessness (see Fernandez v Suffolk County Water Auth., 276 A.D.2d 466, 467 [2000]; Lee v Health Force, 268 A.D.2d 564 [2000]; Rey v Park View Nursing Home, 262 A.D.2d 624, 627 [1999])" (Buckholz v Maple Garden Apts., LLC, 38 A.D.3d 584, 585 [2007]). In other words, "[p]unitive damages are available for the purpose of vindicating a public right only where the actions of the alleged tort-feasor constitute gross recklessness or intentional, wanton or malicious conduct aimed at the public generally or are activated by evil or reprehensible motives" (Pascazi v Pelton, 210 A.D.2d 910, 910 [1994] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Ross v Louise Wise Servs., Inc., 8 N.Y.3d 478, 489 [2007]). Here, we conclude that the record does not evince circumstances warranting an award of punitive damages (see Cushing v Seemann, 247 A.D.2d 891, 893 [1998]; see generally Green v Passenger Bus Corp. [appeal No. 2], 61 A.D.3d 1377, 1378 [2009]; Buckholz, 38 AD3d at 585).
