Collecting Damages for a Missouri Personal Injury Claim.

When it comes to filing a personal injury claim in Missouri, one of the most important things to understand is the types of damages you can collect. Personal injury law is designed to provide financial compensation for victims who have suffered harm due to someone else’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing. These damages are intended to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs associated with the incident. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to receive compensation for a variety of different types of damages.

First, there are economic damages that include any costs associated with medical care, lost wages or income, and property damage. These types of damages are relatively straightforward and are relatively easy to calculate. In addition to economic damages, you may be able to collect non-economic damages. These types of damages are often more difficult to calculate as they involve intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, or loss of consortium.

In some cases, a judge or jury may also award punitive damages in addition to economic and non-economic damages. Punitive damages are intended as a way to punish a defendant for particularly egregious behavior and serve as an example for others who may consider engaging in similar conduct in the future. However, these types of awards are rare and require strong evidence that the defendant acted with gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

In addition to economic and non-economic damages, victims may also be able to receive compensation for their attorney’s fees and court costs related to the case. This is known as “cost shifting” and is designed to help alleviate the financial burden placed on victims after an accident. In most cases, however, victims will only be able to recover these costs if they win their case.

When filing a personal injury claim in Missouri, it is important that you understand the full range of damages you may be entitled to receive. While each situation is unique, understanding the types of damages that you may be eligible for can help you better prepare your case and seek full compensation for your injuries and losses.