What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (2024)

Home What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (1) What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount?

This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.

This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.

  • Last Modified:
  • March 13, 2024

BY

KIMBERLY FOPPE, ATTORNEY

The average settlement amount for a car accident is approximately $25,446.84. This figure may be high in comparison to national averages across the United States because the data includes more car accident settlements involving serious injuries. The average car accident settlement for cases in which non injury or only minor injuries occurred is much lower (generally between $10,000 – $15,000).

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (2)

Additional auto accident settlement values are as follows:

  • Average car accident settlement: $25,446.84
  • Average truck accident settlement: $73,109.92
  • Average motorcycle accident settlement: $79,334.61

These averages do not necessarily inform astandard amount for every settlement. The circ*mstances surrounding every accident are unique, as are the characteristics of each truck, motorcycle, or car accident claim. As a result,settlement amounts of personal injury claimsdependon many factors, although the severity of injuries is largely what impacts a settlement’s value.

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (3)
What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (4)

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Factors That Affect The Amount Of Car Accident Settlements

1. Insurance Coverage

Most states have an insurance coverage requirement, which is usually $25,000 / person and $50,000 / accident. This is the minimum liability coverage requirement in Kansas, Illinois, and Missouri. Most states also require uninsured motorist coverage if an auto accident occurs with a driver who is uninsured. In Kansas, Illinois, and Missouri, the minimum requirement for uninsured motorist coverage is also $25,000 / person and $50,000 / accident.

Drivers’ insurance policies and insurance providers have a major influence on thecar accident settlement processand the final amount of a car accident settlement.

2. Liability

If an accident happens in Missouri, the insurance company of the at-fault driver isresponsible for paying medical bills, property damage, and any injuries that result from the car accident.

In some cases, it’s easy to prove who’s at-fault, while other cases may result in partial liability, a feature of comparative negligence that allows claimants to pursue compensation from defendants in accordance with defendants’ role in the accident. When a car accident fails to suggest a clear at-fault party, a claim may proceed to court or trial.

3. Severity of Injuries

The payout of car accident settlements are also highly influenced by the type of injuries an accident has caused. A car accident case involving a serious injury is more likely to have a higher payout in comparison to a case involving only moderate injuries.

A car accident injury such as those that are serious, life-changing, and non-recoverable justifies a higher payout than the typical car accident settlement where only minor injuries occurred. This is due toclaims of pain and sufferingin addition to greater medical expenses.

In fact, theaverage amount of medical expenses following a car accident can be as high as $57,000 if hospitalization is required. If you have been injured in an accident, you should consider contacting a lawyer after the car accident to determine if you’re eligible to recover compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

4. State Laws

Each state has unique laws regarding minimum insurance coverage, traffic laws, and governing laws that address how fault affects a car accident claim. A personal injury lawyer can shed light on how state laws affect a claim and determine what steps are best to take with regard to either a settlement or a car accident lawsuit. For example, each state has acar accident statute of limitationsthat determines the amount of time an individual has to pursue legal action after an accident.

5. Financial Loss

Financial loss is calculated when determining the payout of a car accident settlement and is another major factor in any car accident case. This includes vehicle damage, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and any lost wages that might occur due to being unable to work.

How Car Accident Settlements Are Calculated

How much someone receives from a settlement orhow much someone can sue after a car accidentlargely depends on the insurance company and available coverage. As the most common sources of payout cases, a standard formula is used to calculate car accident settlements, which includes the following:

  • Injury severity
  • Pain and suffering
  • PTSD
  • Medical expenses (current and future)
  • Lost wages
  • Fault & Negligence

Available insurance coverage greatly depends on the wrongdoer and his or her insurance policy. If your injury is caused by an uninsured individual, that individual may not have the resources to pay a judgment against him or her. If your injury is caused by an insured individual, the amount you can recover in settlement may be limited by that individual’s insurance policy. The limit of each individual’s insurance policy depends on how much insurance that individual can afford. For example, businesses or large corporations likely have more coverage and higher limits on their insurance policies than average individuals do. Furthermore, most states only require a minimum of $25,000 in personal automobile liability coverage per person for any single crash and $50,000 combined total coverage for any single crash. Unfortunately, that means you may not even be able to recover $25,000 if three or more people are injured in the car accident.

Note: For more information about maximizing your settlement, see our guide on how to get more money from a car accident settlement.

Maximize Compensation From Your Car Accident Settlement

Acar accident lawyer can help youmaximize the compensationof your car accident settlement by collecting evidence, handling the legal process, and negotiating with the insurance company. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, immediately seek medical attention and free consultation.

Due to the statute of limitations, it’s important to get started on your claim as soon as possible. Request afree case evaluationfrom a personal injury attorney at Brown & Crouppen, or call888-801-4736 to get started.

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Arnold, MO

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866 Arnold Commons Dr
Arnold, MO 63010
Phone: (314) 501-9394

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Edwardsville, IL

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103 W Vandalia St Suite 150
Edwardsville, IL 62025
Phone: (618) 268-1577

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Fairview Heights, IL

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (12)

331 Salem Pl #210
Fairview Heights, IL 62208
Phone: (618) 249-5876

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Kansas City, MO

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2345 Grand Blvd #675
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: (816) 670-4701

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Ferguson, MO

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409 S Florissant Rd #102St. Louis, MO 63135Phone: (314) 626-5970

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Kirkwood, MO

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1001 S Kirkwood Rd STE
130 Kirkwood, MO 63122
Phone: (314) 661-1960

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O’Fallon, MO

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (16)

110 Laura K Dr
O’Fallon, MO 63366
Phone: (314) 526-3328

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St. Charles, MO

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (17)

1361 Bass Pro Drive
St. Charles, MO 63301
Phone: (314) 501-9968

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St. Louis, MO

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (18)

4900 Daggett Ave.,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Phone: (314) 501-9510

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Washington, MO

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (19)

3014 Phoenix Center Dr
Washington, MO 63090
Phone: (314) 526-3381

Map & Directions

Arnold, MO

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (20)

866 Arnold Commons Dr
Arnold, MO 63010
Phone: (314) 501-9394

Edwardsville, IL

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (21)

103 W Vandalia St Suite 150
Edwardsville, IL 62025
Phone: (618) 268-1577

Fairview Heights, IL

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (22)

331 Salem Pl #210
Fairview Heights, IL 62208
Phone: (618) 249-5876

Kirkwood, MO

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (23)

1001 S Kirkwood Rd STE
130 Kirkwood, MO 63122
Phone: (314) 661-1960

Kansas City, MO

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (24)

2345 Grand Blvd #675
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: (816) 670-4701

Map & Directions

O’Fallon, MO

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (25)

110 Laura K Dr
O’Fallon, MO 63366
Phone: (314) 526-3328

St. Charles, MO

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (26)

1361 Bass Pro Drive
St. Charles, MO 63301
Phone: (314) 501-9968

St. Louis, MO

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (27)

4900 Daggett Ave.,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Phone: (314) 501-9510

Washington, MO

What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (28)

3014 Phoenix Center Dr
Washington, MO 63090
Phone: (314) 526-3381

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What is the Average Car Accident Settlement Amount? (2024)
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