Average Car Accident Settlement in Missouri

As you work through the many details following a car accident, it is normal to wonder what the average car accident settlement in Missouri is so that you can start planning financially for the future. The car accident lawyers from Northland Injury Law know how essential getting finances in order after an accident can be, especially when facing lost wages, large medical bills, and property damage repairs.

Hire a Car Accident Lawyer to Advocate for You

With over 50 years of combined professional experience, the team at Northland Injury Law has been serving Missouri residents for over 30 years. We’ve helped recover millions of dollars in settlements for our injured clients.

While compensation can’t take away the painful trauma you’ve suffered, it can help ease your present and future financial burdens and help hold the responsible party accountable for their actions. You’ll want to understand Missouri laws and what to expect in your specific case, so there are no surprises.

Understanding Car Accident Settlements in Missouri

Trying to find a single car accident settlement amount to base your research on after a car accident may not actually be a helpful use of time as each settlement amount is individual and unique. Below unpacks the many factors that influence settlement amounts:

• The Severity of Injuries: In general, the more severe the injuries an individual suffers, the more likely their settlement will result in a higher amount. This is because they are likely to face large medical bills, long recovery times, and greater emotional and physical suffering, whereas a minor injury, like a sprain, may result in a lower settlement amount as the impacts are not as far-reaching.
• Medical Expenses: Compensation can cover both past and future medical expenses, and the greater the medical expense, the larger the settlement amount may be to compensate for the financial toll. Medical expenses can include emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, physical therapy, ongoing treatment, and prescription medication.
• Property Damage: The level of damage to property, which will generally be to a vehicle in a car accident, can contribute to the total settlement amount. The costs of repairs or replacement of the vehicle can also be compensated in the settlement amount.
• Loss of Income: If an injured individual has suffered lost wages because they had to miss work due to the accident, they may receive compensation for the lost wages as well as consideration if they now have a reduced earning capacity because of permanent injuries.
• Pain and Suffering: Non-economic damages can be harder to prove but are often just as relevant as economic damages like medical expenses. Physical pain and emotional distress can be evaluated after an accident and compensated for. The level of compensation for pain and suffering can be influenced by the duration and intensity of pain, emotional trauma like PTSD, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
• Liability and Fault: Liability and fault for an accident is often central to the success of receiving a settlement. Missouri follows a comparative fault rule which means that individuals can still receive damages even if they are partially at fault for the accident but that compensation can be reduced by the percentage of fault they are assigned.
• Insurance Coverage: The at-fault party’s insurance policy limits can cap the settlement amount, making insurance policy details important to understand.
• Strength of Evidence: Strong versus weak evidence can have a great impact on whether a settlement is awarded and the total amount that is given. Evidence makes it easier to prove liability and damages which can increase the chances of a higher settlement amount. Strong evidence can look like police reports, witness statements, accident scene photos and videos, and medical records.
• Quality of Legal Representation: The quality and competency level of legal representation can have significant impacts, either positive or negative, on ensuring a fair settlement.

A qualified lawyer who has experience working on cases involving car accidents can help to build a strong case on their client’s behalf, negotiate fair terms with insurers, and secure higher settlements by employing a strong legal strategy that adequately represents their client’s situation.

You should receive compensation if you suffered an injury or damages after an accident that was another party’s fault, but it is, unfortunately, often more complex than this. Understanding the key components of why a settlement is awarded and the factors that can influence a successful result is important when preparing for your case.

Evidence to Gather for Your Car Accident Case in Missouri

Courts rely on the evidence provided during a car accident case to make their final determination. In order to increase your chances of success, you’ll want to work with your attorney to gather and preserve:

1. Eyewitness testimony from those who saw the accident
2. Testimony from professionals who can offer their opinion about what caused the crash to happen
3. Surveillance footage, dash cam footage, and traffic camera footage of the wreck
4. Photos and videos of the crash site, your visible injuries at the time of the crash, and any damage to your vehicle and other personal belongings
5. Copies of the incident report, your medical records, and proof of financial and emotional losses, such as lost income or notes from a therapist about your mental state since the accident

Missouri Insurance Limits That Commonly Cap Settlements

In 2023, there were 50,375 people injured in a car accident in Missouri. In 2022, the national average expenditures for auto insurance in the United States were $1,126.79. In 2021, the average auto insurance expenditures for Missouri residents was 1.46% of their median household income. Certain insurance policy limits may affect the outcome of your settlement. Missouri has minimum liability limits for automobile accidents. These limits are:

1. $25,000 for bodily injury for one person to pay for their injuries or death
2. $50,000 for bodily injury for two or more people to pay for their injuries or death. This means that the total insurance payout cannot exceed $50,000, regardless of the total number of people hurt in the crash.
3. $25,000 per accident for property damage caused by the crash

These amounts are the minimum amount required by Missouri law, but drivers are able to purchase higher premiums if they choose to do so.

Missouri also requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage protects you if the person responsible for the car crash doesn’t have insurance, the crash was a hit-and-run, and the responsible driver can’t be identified, or there was no physical contact involved in the crash, such as being run off the road by another driver.

Underinsured motorist coverage, which kicks in when an accident happens and the responsible driver doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the extent of damages, is optional in Missouri.

After a car accident in Missouri, you’ll want to hire a car accident lawyer to help explain what specific laws apply to your unique situation.

FAQs

Q: How Much Are Most Car Accident Settlements in Missouri?

A: In Missouri, car accident settlement amounts vary greatly between each individual case. Settlement amounts vary due to the unique factors and specific losses associated with each individual accident. Settlements compensate for both economic and non-economic damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, impact on future earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress.

Q: How Much Can You Get Out of Pain and Suffering?

A: How much you can get out of pain and suffering depends on the specifics of the case. Pain and suffering are non-economic damages related to the emotional and physical distress caused by an injury, and they can be challenging to quantify, given the intangible nature of these damages. Pain and suffering compensation can be dependent on the severity of the injury, its impact on your daily life, the duration needed for recovery, and the emotional impact.

Q: What Are Punitive Damages in a Car Accident Case?

A: If the responsible party acted with negligence—or in rare cases, extreme malice—punitive damages can be requested in a car accident case. In order to be awarded these damages, you’ll need to provide clear proof. For example, if the driver who hit you was texting and driving, surveillance footage of them doing so can be beneficial. Punitive damages were designed to further punish the guilty party and discourage them from doing similar actions again.

Q: What Is an Acceptable Settlement Figure?

A: An acceptable settlement figure in a personal injury case will depend on the specifics of the situation, including the severity of the injuries, the damages suffered, and the strength of the case. What is generally considered a good settlement is when there is accurate compensation for both economic and non-economic losses like medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.

Q: How Long Do Most Car Accident Settlements Take?

A: How long a car accident settlement will take is determined by the details of each individual case. There are many factors that influence a case’s timeline, such as the time needed for injury recovery, the availability of the court, efficiency of communication between the defendant and plaintiff and associated parties, effectiveness of legal representation, and other related influences.

Get in Touch With a Trusted Car Accident Lawyer Today

Receiving a fair and accurate settlement should be a guarantee, but unfortunately, it is not always a streamlined process, which makes it essential to partner with the right legal representation that can offer support in not only protecting rights but also advocating for fair compensation. Set up an initial consultation with Northland Injury Law to meet with our legal team and share with us about your car accident and the full extent of your losses to learn how we can support you.