Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements – Lawsuit Information Center Blog

This page looks at personal injury lawsuits in Missouri, focusing on Missouri law and expected settlement amounts and jury payouts in Missouri.
Specifically, our lawyers explain the Missouri tort law you need to know, including the types of damages plaintiffs can get in Missouri, how long they can wait before filing a case, and what damage caps there are. We will also examine the average compensation payout in Missouri personal injury cases by examining sample verdicts and reported settlements from recent Missouri cases.
Under Missouri law, a plaintiff physically injured due to the defendant’s negligent actions is entitled to “damages” in the form of financial compensation to restore the plaintiff to their position before the injury. Plaintiffs in Missouri personal injury cases are entitled to the following categories of damages:
Missouri has a five-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. This means that a prospective plaintiff in Missouri must file their personal injury lawsuits within five years, or they will be barred from suing. Missouri follows the so-called “discovery rule” for determining when the five-year limitations period begins to run. Under this rule, the 5-year time limit begins to run when the plaintiff reasonably could have discovered that they had a potential personal injury claim against the defendant.
In auto accident cases, the five-year period begins to run immediately from the accident date because all reasonable drivers should understand that they may have a claim when they get into an accident. However, the date when the limitation period begins is much less evident in more complex cases, such as medical malpractice.
Missouri has a cap on non-economic damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits. Non-economic damages include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. The cap was established by a law passed in 2015 and is currently set at $457,749 in 2023 for cases involving medical malpractice.
There are some exceptions to the cap. In cases involving catastrophic injuries, such as paralysis, loss of a limb, or brain damage, the cap can be raised to $801,061. In cases involving wrongful death, the cap is $801,061 in 2023 for cases where the deceased was married, had children, or both, and half the catastrophic cap in cases where the deceased had no spouse or children. Additionally, the cap does not apply to economic damages, which cover things like medical expenses and lost wages, so you can get a jury payout in the tens of millions of dollars, as you see below.
Here is how the cap works. The cap number is based, oddly, on the trial date, not the date of loss:
The potential value of a personal injury lawsuit in Missouri depends on many different factors. The most significant factor for determining the possible value of a Missouri injury case is the type and severity level of the plaintiff’s physical injuries. The settlement payout of a case goes up with the severity level of the plaintiff’s injuries.
Another significant factor impacting the potential value of injury cases in Missouri is what type of case it is (e.g., medical malpractice, auto accident, premises liability, etc.) and whether there is insurance to cover the damages. In auto accident cases, the case’s potential value is often limited by the amount of insurance coverage available. By contrast, if the defendant is a doctor or company, they usually have insurance with high liability limits.
These are the other variables that matter in determining Missouri tort claim payouts:
These factors, among others, will influence settlement negotiations. Victims seeking settlement compensation should consult a Missouri personal injury attorney to evaluate their case and potential settlement value.
Another way to look at the potential settlement value of your own Missouri personal injury case is by looking at settlements and verdicts in prior injury cases involving comparable facts. Below are summaries of recent tort cases in Missouri that resulted in verdicts or publicly reported settlements.
Our law firm handles serious injury and wrongful death lawsuits in Missouri. Our attorneys have a track record of success. We work closely with trusted colleagues within Missouri. Our lawyers do not charge additional contingency fees for having two law firms working on your case – two law firms for the price of one –  and you only owe a fee if you receive settlement compensation or a jury payout.
If you have suffered an injury and believe you have a potential civil tort claim, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. You can contact us online or call us today at 800-553-8082.

Personal injury lawyers handling serious personal injury truck and auto accident, medical malpractice and products liability cases throughout the United States.
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