The Types of Damages Recoverable In St. Louis Car Accident

In Missouri, if you're involved in a car accident and it wasn't your fault, you can seek compensation for various damages from the at-fault party's insurance company. These damages fall into two main categories: compensatory and punitive.

Compensatory Damages:

These aim to restore you to the financial position you were in before the accident and compensate for your pain and suffering. Here's a breakdown of the different types of compensatory damages recoverable in Missouri car accidents:

  • Medical Expenses: This covers all past and future medical bills resulting from the accident, including ambulance rides, emergency room visits, doctor appointments, medications, surgeries, rehabilitation, and therapy.

  • Lost Wages: You can be compensated for income lost due to missing work because of your injuries. This includes salary, hourly wages, bonuses, and commissions.

  • Property Damage: This covers the repair or replacement costs of your vehicle or any other property damaged in the accident.

  • Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Reimbursement for any additional costs incurred due to the accident, such as transportation to medical appointments, replacement of damaged personal belongings, or hiring help for household chores you can't perform due to your injuries.

  • Non-Economic Damages: These are intangible losses and can be more challenging to quantify. They include:

    • Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain and discomfort experienced due to the injuries.
    • Emotional Distress: Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other emotional effects of the accident.
    • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Inability to participate in activities you once enjoyed due to your injuries.
    • Loss of Consortium: Compensation for a spouse who has suffered a loss of companionship, intimacy, or support due to your injuries.

There is no cap on non-economic damages in Missouri for general negligence claims. However, the amount awarded will depend on the severity of your injuries and the impact on your life.

Punitive Damages:

These are rarely awarded and are intended to punish the at-fault party for extreme recklessness or intentional wrongdoing. In Missouri, punitive damages are only awarded in exceptional cases where the defendant's conduct was outrageous.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.

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