The value of a personal injury case depends on several factors, including the nature of your injuries, the losses you have sustained, and the evidence supporting your claim.
Factors That May Affect the Value of Your Personal Injury Case
Every personal injury claim is shaped by its own set of circumstances, and several key factors can raise or lower the overall value of your case. For example:
- The severity and permanence of your injuries play a significant role, as more serious or long-term conditions typically result in higher compensation.
- Clear, well-documented evidence—such as medical records, accident reports, and witness statements—strengthens your case and supports a higher valuation.
- If you are found to share any degree of fault for the accident, your compensation may be reduced under comparative negligence rules.
- The available insurance coverage of the at-fault party can limit the total amount you can recover, regardless of the full extent of your damages.
Recoverable Damages in Kansas City Personal Injury Cases
Being hurt in an accident can leave you feeling uncertain about the future, especially when it comes to finances. Under Missouri and Kansas law, personal injury victims may be entitled to compensation for a wide variety of losses:
- Medical Expenses: This includes compensation for hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and any future medical care related to your injury.
- Lost Wages and Benefits: If your injury has caused you to miss work or has diminished your ability to earn a living, you may recover compensation for lost income, reduced earning capacity, and the value of lost employment benefits.
- Property Damage: When an accident damages or destroys your personal property—such as your vehicle in a car crash—you can seek compensation for repair or replacement costs.
- Pain and Suffering: These damages account for the physical pain, emotional distress, and reduction in quality of life that you have experienced as a result of your injury.
- Punitive Damages: In cases involving reckless or intentional misconduct, the court may award punitive damages. These are designed to punish the at-fault party and discourage similar behavior in the future.
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How to Calculate Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Calculating economic damages is relatively straightforward because these losses come with documentation. Medical bills, pay stubs, and repair estimates all provide concrete figures. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are more subjective. There is no receipt for pain, anxiety, or the inability to enjoy activities you once loved.
Insurance companies and attorneys for personal injury claims in Kansas City often use various methods to assign a dollar value to these intangible losses. Two of the most common formulas include:
- The multiplier method, which takes the total of your economic damages and multiplies it by a number based on the severity of your injuries and their overall impact on your life
- The per diem method, which assigns a specific daily dollar amount to your pain and suffering for every day you’ve been affected by your injuries
Find Out What Your Personal Injury Case Is Worth in Kansas City
Determining the true value of your personal injury case requires a careful review of every detail: your injuries, your losses, and the facts surrounding your accident. The best step you can take is to consult with a Kansas City personal injury attorney who can evaluate your claim and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe today at (816) 876-2600 to schedule a free consultation and learn what your personal injury case is worth.