How Does a Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer Determine Claim Value?

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Shortly after being bitten by a neighbor’s dog, Karen decided to hire Kansas City personal injury lawyer Jerry Wallentine to represent her. She knew the personal injury process would be too challenging to handle alone. More importantly, Karen wanted to ensure she received the compensation she deserved for the hardships she had already endured and those she was still facing.

Karen felt secure in choosing Wallentine Injury Law. The team was trustworthy, attentive, and responsive to her unique needs, both legally and physically. She couldn’t have asked for a better start to the claims process. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder how much compensation she might receive once the case concluded. Even though the InJerry Law team managed her medical bills and gathered supporting evidence, Karen worried whether the final award would truly cover everything—from rising medical costs to lost wages.

Karen is a hypothetical client, but very typical. Many, if not most, of our clients share the same question. Financial uncertainty is difficult for anyone to face. However, the value of a personal injury claim is not as simple as some attorneys might suggest with quick “settlement calculators.” The truth is straightforward: every case is different, and compensation can vary greatly.

At Wallentine Injury Law, we may not be able to provide a predetermined settlement amount, but we can promise clear, honest communication about the factors that may affect your financial recovery. This page outlines those key factors to help you better understand what your claim may be worth in KCMO. Contact our team today for a free consultation—we’ll focus on your needs first while also walking you through the details that could impact your compensation.

What Kind of Settlements Do Kansas City Injury Cases Typically Recover?

Wallentine Injury Law is one of many personal injury firms in the KC metro. That’s no coincidence—Kansas City is the largest city in Missouri and sees a high volume of personal injury claims every year. Heavy traffic and dangerous roads make car accident claims the most common, but a wide range of personal injury cases are filed locally.

While a high number of claims is generally an unfortunate statistic, it does provide insight into what local juries and insurers have awarded in the past. Reviewing recent case results can give injured individuals a rough sense of potential compensation. Although these figures cannot predict the exact outcome of your case (as we’ll explain later), they can serve as useful reference points.

Recent Kansas City, MO Case Results:

Wallentine Injury Law Recent Case Results:

  • Negligence to a Minor – $1,000,000
  • Car Wreck – $500,000
  • Sexual Assault – $300,000
  • Auto Accident – $302,500
  • Battery & Premise Liability $350,000
  • Slip and Fall – $155,000

As these examples show, KC has no shortage of personal injury cases—and no two recoveries are the same, even for similar accident types. Looking at local results can provide a helpful starting point; however, your actual compensation will depend on the unique facts, evidence, and damages in your case.

Yes. Other results can indeed impact a different case. Therefore, just recently, we sent out a demand based on a jury verdict involving similar damages, where the jury awarded $82 million dollars. However, each case is unique. Contact our team today to discuss your potential personal injury claim.

7 Factors That Affect How Much Your Injury Case is Worth in Kansas City

While looking at local settlements can give you a general idea of personal injury outcomes, they cannot provide the same level of insight as the specific details of your case. Based on Jerry’s 20 years of experience, and the numerous decades of combined legal experience here at the firm, the Kansas City personal injury lawyers at Wallentine Injury Law have found that the following seven factors play the most significant role in determining compensation. Each one directly shapes the details and evidence that make up your case.

Extent of Injuries

The extent of your injuries plays a central role in both the early assessment of your claim and your final compensation. This may seem obvious, as most people can recognize that an accident resulting in a broken arm and minor scrapes will likely be valued lower than one involving a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage.

Severe injuries are tied to higher financial awards not only because of the pain and suffering they cause but also because of the substantial economic damages they create. Serious injuries often require extended hospital stays, surgeries, and long-term rehabilitation. These treatments quickly lead to mounting medical bills, which significantly increase the overall value of your claim.

Type of Accident

Closely tied to the extent of your injuries is the type of accident involved. Certain types of personal injury cases are more often associated with severe injuries and extensive medical care. The following categories are among the most serious and fatal:

Although these accident types often result in severe injuries, serious harm can occur in many other situations. Even if your accident seems minor, it is still important to speak with a Kansas City personal injury lawyer, especially if negligence is suspected. Our team will listen to your needs, explain your options, and ensure your injuries and losses receive the attention they deserve.

Caps on Damages

The extent of your injuries and the type of accident shape the damages you may be owed in a personal injury claim. Damages go beyond physical harm and accident details, covering several categories:

  • Economic Damages- Medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle repairs, and other measurable financial losses.
  • Non-Economic Damages- Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other intangible impacts.
  • Punitive Damages- Awards intended to punish a defendant for especially negligent or reckless conduct.

An important consideration for case value is whether damages are subject to legal caps. In Missouri, economic damages are not capped, but certain non-economic damages are limited by statute. These caps can significantly influence the final compensation amount. In general, though, despite some statutes, caps are deemed Unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. When the defense inevitably tries to raise these caps, we shut it down.

Liability

Liability is another major factor in the value of your KC personal injury claim. Even if you believe the other party was fully at fault, a court or jury may still find you partially responsible. Insurance companies will also work hard to shift blame onto you, since reducing your share of fault lowers the compensation they must pay.

Fortunately, Missouri applies a pure comparative fault rule, which allows you to recover damages even if you are found 99% at fault. However, your recovery is reduced according to your percentage of fault. While this reduces the total amount you may receive, it is still highly beneficial in complex cases involving multiple parties, as it preserves your right to some compensation regardless of your level of fault.

Insurance

At Wallentine Injury Law, we emphasize to every client that insurance companies are not on your side—even if you are the injured party. Insurers have several ways to devalue your Kansas City personal injury claim:

Policy Limits

Insurance policies include “policy limits,” which cap how much an insurer will pay out on a claim. These limits can dramatically affect your compensation, even when your damages far exceed the available coverage.

For instance, Missouri law requires drivers to carry minimum motor-vehicle liability coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 per accident. If you are hit by a driver with only minimum coverage, your recovery may be restricted to those limits unless taken to trial, or underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage applies. However, there have been instances where we have recovered much more for the injured party. This has occurred when we gave the insurance company plenty of opportunity to settle for policy limits, but they kept refusing, so we had to file the lawsuit. Then, after we filed, they offered policy limits, but we rejected, saying it was too late. When they then settled for significantly more than policy limits.

Insurance Settlement Software

Similar to how some attorneys provide “settlement calculators,” insurance companies use sophisticated software to calculate settlement value. While some larger insurance companies utilize their own proprietary in-house software systems, most rely on system giants such as Colossus, Mitchell DecisionPoint, ClaimIQ, and others. Designed to standardize and control settlement values, this software allows insurers to systematically evaluate important claim elements like medical bills and injury type to generate a designated settlement range.

While standardization might seem fair, it often undervalues the unique aspects of your pain and suffering, reducing your claim to numbers on a screen.

Insurance Bad-Faith Tactics

Insurance companies may also rely on bad-faith tactics to limit payouts. Common examples include pressuring claimants into quick settlements, hot-boxing, misrepresenting policy terms, or withholding key information.

Because insurers wield significant influence over the claims process, having experienced legal representation is essential. At Wallentine Injury Law, we recognize these deceptive tactics and fight to ensure your right to full and fair compensation is protected.

Jurisdiction- Court, Judge, Jury

The jurisdiction of your case plays a fundamental role in its outcome and ultimate value. In Missouri, personal injury claims are generally tried in the county where the injury occurred, regardless of where the parties live. Therefore, if your accident happened in KCMO, your case would likely be filed in the 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County. Jackson County is considered a fair venue for Plaintiffs to recover fair and just compensation at trial.

The venue, presiding judge, courtroom staff, and local jurors all influence how your case is handled. While Missouri law sets the procedures for personal injury litigation, the people applying those procedures bring individual reputations, experiences, and perspectives to the process. Even with impartiality as the goal, a human element is always present in our judicial system.

Because of this, credibility and presentation are critical. Jurors in particular often weigh not only the facts of the case but also how much they trust and empathize with the plaintiff. A strong, relatable impression can make a substantial difference in how much compensation you ultimately receive.

Your Attorney

Perhaps one of the most significant factors affecting claim value is whether you work with a Kansas City personal injury lawyer. According to a 2014 study (updated in subsequent years) by the Insurance Research Council, injury victims who hire legal representation see an average of 3.5 times higher settlements than those who do not.

This difference is not by chance. Skilled attorneys achieve stronger results through meticulous preparation and proven strategies. A trustworthy attorney will not only negotiate straightforward damages like medical bills but also advocate for harder-to-measure losses such as pain and suffering—ensuring insurers do not minimize the full toll of your injuries.

If your case goes to trial, your attorney’s role becomes even more critical. From making a reputable first impression during jury selection (voir dire) to presenting evidence persuasively, experienced trial attorneys provide advantages that may seem subtle but can significantly influence your case outcome. Ultimately, the right personal injury attorney can make a decisive difference in the value of your claim.

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How Wallentine Injury Law Helps You Get Maximum Compensation

If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence, our Kansas City personal injury lawyers are here to help you pursue the maximum compensation available. We carefully evaluate every factor that may affect your claim’s worth—such as the extent of your injuries, potential damage caps, insurance policies, jurisdiction, and more. With decades of combined experience, our Missouri personal injury team will guide you step by step through the process while ensuring your needs are fully addressed.

Protect the value of your claim by contacting Wallentine Injury Law today.

Call 816-934-6333 or reach out online to schedule your free consultation.

References

Inquire

Practice Areas

Case Results

$1,000,000.00

Negligent treatment of a child

$300,000

Battery and Premise Liability

$250,000

Car Wreck

$100,000

Dog Bite

$500,000

Auto Accident

$300,000

Sexual Battery of a Minor

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