Average Car Accident Settlement in Missouri

By The Cagle Law Firm | May 6, 2024 | Car Accidents

After a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you can recover compensation for your injuries and other damages. In 2022, ( Insurance Information Institute) the average car insurance liability claim for bodily injury was $24,211, and the average liability claim for property damage was $5,313. However, understanding the average car accident settlement in Missouri does not help those who have been involved in a car accident, as every accident and settlement is unique.  These numbers can be very deceiving as one person injured in a car accident can easily run up well over $25K quickly.

If someone else was at fault for your accident and injuries, then you should be able to recover the financial cost of the damages you suffered. The exact value of your settlement will rely on a multitude of factors, and what is fair will not have anything to do with what the average settlement is.

Factors That Affect the Value of Your Car Accident Settlement

The primary influencing factor on the value of a car insurance claim is the specific physical damages you sustained in the accident, which you can recover in the claim. The possible damages you could claim include:

• Property Damage: You can recover the repair or replacement costs of damage to your vehicle or other personal property.
• Medical Bills: A settlement includes the cost of any medical bills, including transport to receive care and any medical treatments, as well as any rehabilitative and long-term care needs related to the injury.
• Lost Income: When you have to take time off work to recover, the wages you would have earned are a part of your settlement.
• Lost Earning Potential: These damages apply if your car accident has left you permanently impaired or disabled and you are not able to return to work. You may receive disability payments or wages that you should have earned throughout your life.
• Pain and Suffering: Settlements also include noneconomic damages, which typically are greater if your injury is serious. The more significant and long-lasting your injuries are expected to be, the higher the emotional and psychological damages are presumed to be. This increases the value of your noneconomic damages, like loss of quality of life, disability, physical pain, and emotional trauma.

Other than the exact damages, there are other factors that influence the value of your claim. These include:

• Attorney:  A more skilled attorney is more adept at investigating and negotiating a fair claim more efficiently. An experienced attorney is also better at calculating the fair value of your claim, accounting for common long-term costs and advocating for you.
• Evidence: The more evidence in support of your claim, the better your claim. Evidence may include CCTV footage of the accident, cell phone records, pictures and videos of the aftermath of the collision, and witness statements. This evidence can make it harder for insurance providers to deny a valid claim.
• Court or Settlement: If a claim goes to court, it may result in a higher settlement. The costs and time of going to trial are higher. Whether you settle a claim in court or through negotiations will depend on the unique circumstances of your accident.
• Punitive Damages: If you take the claim to court, the court could award punitive damages in rare cases. These damages are only applicable when the at-fault party acts with malice or excessive negligence.
• Comparative Fault: Missouri has comparative fault laws, which means that, if you are partially to blame for the accident, it affects your settlement. In some cases, you cannot recover compensation. In other cases, your final settlement is reduced.

FAQs

Q: How Much Are Most Car Accident Settlements?

The value of a car accident settlement varies based on multiple factors. Some of these include:

• The value of your economic and noneconomic damages
• Whether the claim is settled outside of court or goes to court
• How long the injuries are expected to impact a victim
• If the injured party has any partial fault in the accident
• Whether the court assigns punitive damages for gross negligence
• The significance of the evidence in support of the claim
• The skill of the injured party’s attorney
• The insurance coverage of the at-fault party

Q: How Much Money Should I Ask for in a Car Accident Settlement?

The amount of money you should ask for in a car accident settlement is the value of the economic and noneconomic damages that you suffered. Depending on the circumstances of your accident in Missouri, these may include:

• Medical bills
• Rehabilitative care
• Expected medical complications
• Lost income
• Lost earning potential
• Replacement services
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

An attorney can calculate a fair amount for a settlement based on your unique damages.

Q: How Long After a Car Accident Can You Sue in Missouri?

After a car accident, you can sue within five (5) years if you have a valid personal injury civil claim. This is the statute of limitations or time deadline in Missouri. If you do not file your claim within this time period, you lose the ability to recover compensation. If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, you must file a wrongful death within three (3) years of their passing.

Q: Is Missouri a No-Fault State for Car Accidents?

Missouri utilizes pure comparative fault, meaning you can still file a claim if you are partially at-fault.  If you are injured in a car accident, you can file with the car insurance provider of the driver who was at fault for the accident. If you share some fault, you will want to hire an expert attorney right away.  And, it is important to understand that even if you think the crash was “clear cut” regarding fault and the other driver hit you head-on, the insurance adjuster or defense counsel will attempt to argue that you still shared some fault. Under pure comparative fault, if the defense attorney can convince a jury that you have some percentage of fault, that percentage will be deducted from your compensation.  Clearly, the goal for insurance companies in arguing fault is to reduce compensation payout.

Getting the Compensation You Deserve After a Car Accident

Before speaking to an insurance adjuster, consult a firm that understands the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court of St. Louis. An attorney ensures your “demand package” accurately reflects your medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Make sure you have an expert attorney guiding your case from investigation to a successful resolutuion.

Call us toll-free at (1-800) 685-3302 or locally at (314) 276-1681 to discuss your case with a St. Louis County car accident lawyer.

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