What’s My Car Crash Worth? Kansas City’s Favorite Law Firm Talks Settlement Awards

Finding out the average car accident settlement in Kansas City is easy when no one was hurt; it’s about how much property damage happened to your vehicle. But when you suffer injury, it’s an entirely different scenario. You have medical expenses, time lost from work, and other issues. In today’s blog, we want to discuss how damages are calculated in a Kansas City car accident claim.

Types of damages in a car accident claim

Damages are typically divided into two main categories: economic damages (sometimes called special damages) and non-economic damages (sometimes called general damages). Economic damages account for objective losses, like medical expenses and lost income. Non-economic damages take into account things like pain and suffering.

How are damages calculated in a Kansas City car accident claim?

Calculating damages in a car accident claim can be complex and depends on a variety of factors like the extent of property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other costs. We consider the following damages when seeking compensation for your claim:

• Medical expenses: This includes all your medical costs related to injuries sustained in the accident, such as hospital bills, doctor visits, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and any necessary medical equipment. The more severe your injuries, the more compensation you will be entitled to.
• Lost wages: If the injuries from the accident prevent you from working, you may be entitled to compensation for the income you would have earned during the time you were unable to work.
• Property damage: This includes the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any other property damaged in the accident.
• Pain and suffering: This is a non-economic damage that compensates for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident and injuries. Calculating pain and suffering damages often involves subjective factors and varies depending on the severity of the injuries and their impact on the victim’s life. Our attorneys can help with this.
• Punitive damages: In cases where the at-fault party’s actions were particularly egregious or reckless, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future. However, punitive damages are less common and are typically only awarded in cases of extreme negligence or intentional misconduct.

When a person is found at fault for an accident, they (or their insurance company) must pay you for the losses mentioned above. Our lawyers can help assess your general and special damages.

Calculating pain and suffering for a Kansas City car crash

Adding up your medical expenses and lost paychecks is relatively easy to determine your level of financial loss. However, because pain and suffering is considered a non-economic damage, it’s a little bit more difficult to determine.

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for calculating pain and suffering, but attorneys and insurance companies use a few common methods to estimate a fair value in personal injury cases. Here’s the two main approaches:

• Multiplier method: This approach multiplies your special damages (medical bills, lost wages) by a number between 1.5 (low-impact cases) and 5 (severe injuries). So, if your medical bills are $10,000 and your injury significantly impacts your daily life, the multiplier might be 3, resulting in $30,000 for pain and suffering. Our attorneys fight for a higher multiplier, depending on your injuries and losses.
• Per diem method: This approach assigns a daily dollar amount for your recovery period. The per diem rate considers the severity of the injury and its impact on your life. Let’s say your per diem rate is $200, and it takes 100 days to recover. In this scenario, your pain and suffering amount would be $20,000.

On top of these methods, attorneys consider several other factors to determine a final value, including:

• The nature and extent of your injuries
• How the injuries affect your daily activities (mobility, work, hobbies)
• Whether the pain is temporary or permanent
• Any scarring or disfigurement
• Medical documentation supporting your pain and suffering

It’s important to remember that these are simply estimation methods. At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we also use our experience, the specifics of your case, and comparable cases to determine the most appropriate amount for your pain and suffering.

What happens when multiple parties are liable for my accident and injuries?

When multiple parties are liable in your accident, our lawyers must determine how much each party contributed to causing your injuries. Each responsible party will be assigned a percentage of fault and each party is held accountable for paying their part of the settlement, or verdict, if you win in court. Typically, if more than one party is liable for your accident, you can expect a larger payout, as you can file a claim against all liable parties’ insurance companies.

What if I’m not happy with the settlement offer?

We will never accept or reject an offer without your agreement. If we believe the offer is not in your best interests, we will advise you accordingly. If you decide to reject the offer, we move on to fight for you in court. On the other hand, if we believe the offer is fair and in your best interests, you may choose to settle instead of going to trial. Our lawyers are always on hand to advise you on the best road to go down.

The bottom line? If you’re wondering what your car crash is worth, work with a qualified attorney to ensure you receive all the compensation to which you are entitled. We take all possible factors into account, working to secure the highest compensation allowed by law.

Were you or a loved one seriously injured in a car accident? Talk to Kansas City’s Favorite Law Firm today. At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we understand car accidents, and we understand how to seek compensation from all liable parties. We are here to help make you whole again and secure all the compensation to which you are entitled for your accident and injuries. To schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, just call our offices or submit our contact form. We are available any time at our main office in Kansas City, MO. If that location does not work for you, feel free to schedule an appointment at one of our other convenient office locations in Lee’s Summit, Parkville and St. Joseph (MO); Olathe, Kansas City, and Overland Park (KS).