Missouri Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Get a rough estimate of what a Missouri personal injury or dog-bite claim might be worth, based on your medical bills and losses. This is an estimate to understand the factors — not a prediction or an offer.
This is a rough estimate, not a prediction or an offer.
There is no formula that predicts a settlement. This tool uses the common "multiplier method" to show the factors that drive value and a wide range — actual outcomes depend on the facts, insurance limits, the venue, and negotiation. Consult a Missouri personal-injury attorney about your case.
Enter your medical bills and losses to see an estimated range
The multiplier method (pain-and-suffering as a multiple of your medical bills) is a common starting point, not a guarantee. Most personal-injury cases settle out of court; most attorneys work on a contingency fee (commonly around a third, but the rate is set by your agreement and some states regulate or cap it), and an attorney is the only way to value your specific claim. This tool is not legal advice and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.
How the Estimate Works
No tool can predict a settlement — every case is different and the number depends on the facts, the available insurance, the venue, and negotiation. What this calculator does is apply the multiplier method, the rough starting point insurers and attorneys use: it adds up your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage), then estimates pain and suffering as a multiple of those damages (about 1.5× for minor injuries up to 5× or more for catastrophic ones), and shows a wide range. It is a way to understand value, not a guarantee.
It then applies Missouri's fault rule, because how fault is shared directly changes what you can recover.
Missouri's Fault Rule: pure comparative negligence
Missouri follows PURE comparative fault: a plaintiff's recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault but is never barred, even if the plaintiff is more than 50% (or up to 99%) at fault. The Missouri Supreme Court adopted pure comparative fault for negligence in Gustafson v. Benda, 661 S.W.2d 11 (Mo. banc 1983), replacing the old contributory-negligence bar. For products liability it is codified at RSMo 537.765, which abolishes contributory fault as a complete bar and reduces compensatory damages proportionately. The dog-bite statute (273.036) likewise reduces, rather than bars, damages by the injured party's fault percentage.
Damage Caps in Missouri
No cap on general personal-injury (auto/premises/dog-bite) compensatory damages. Notable exceptions: MEDICAL MALPRACTICE noneconomic-damage caps under RSMo 538.210 (statutory base $400,000 for non-catastrophic and $700,000 for catastrophic/death injuries, adjusted upward 1.7% annually). PUNITIVE damages are generally capped under RSMo 510.265 at the greater of $500,000 or five times the net judgment, with exceptions. These caps do NOT apply to ordinary economic/non-economic damages in standard negligence PI cases.
Dog-Bite Liability in Missouri
RSMo 273.036 (effective Aug. 28, 2009) imposes strict liability: an owner/possessor of a dog that bites, without provocation, a person on public property or lawfully on private property (including the owner's own property) "is strictly liable for damages...regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's or possessor's knowledge of such viciousness." This is a true strict-liability "first bite" statute, not a one-bite rule. Damages are reduced by the injured party's comparative fault percentage.
Deadline to File a Claim in Missouri
Missouri generally requires a personal-injury lawsuit to be filed within 5 years of the injury (the statute of limitations). RSMo 516.120(4) sets a 5-year limitation for "any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract." This is the standard period for negligence-based personal-injury claims (auto, premises, dog bite). Note: wrongful death is 3 years (RSMo 537.100), and some intentional torts have a 2-year period (RSMo 516.140). Miss it and your claim is usually barred no matter how strong it is, so do not wait to talk to an attorney.
- Statute of limitations to file a personal-injury suit is 5 years from injury (RSMo 516.120) -- longer than most states' 2-3 years.
- Negligence follows PURE comparative fault (Gustafson v. Benda, 1983; products codified at RSMo 537.765): damages reduced by plaintiff's fault %, never barred even if plaintiff is 99% at fault.
- Dog bites are governed by a STRICT-LIABILITY statute (RSMo 273.036): owner liable for unprovoked bites regardless of any prior knowledge of viciousness; victim must be on public property or lawfully on private property.
- General PI compensatory damages are uncapped; caps apply only to medical-malpractice noneconomic damages (RSMo 538.210) and punitive damages (RSMo 510.265).
- Wrongful-death actions have their own 3-year limitations period under RSMo 537.100, separate from the 5-year personal-injury period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my Missouri injury claim worth?
No one can tell you a number in advance. A rough estimate adds your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) and applies a pain-and-suffering multiplier, then adjusts for fault under Missouri's pure comparative negligence rule. The real value depends on the facts, the insurance available, and negotiation — an attorney is the only way to value your specific case.
Does my own fault reduce my Missouri settlement?
Yes. Missouri follows PURE comparative fault: a plaintiff's recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault but is never barred, even if the plaintiff is more than 50% (or up to 99%) at fault. The Missouri Supreme Court adopted pure comparative fault for negligence in Gustafson v. Benda, 661 S.W.2d 11 (Mo. banc 1983), replacing the old contributory-negligence bar. For products liability it is codified at RSMo 537.765, which abolishes contributory fault as a complete bar and reduces compensatory damages proportionately. The dog-bite statute (273.036) likewise reduces, rather than bars, damages by the injured party's fault percentage.
How long do I have to file in Missouri?
Generally 5 years from the injury. RSMo 516.120(4) sets a 5-year limitation for "any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract." This is the standard period for negligence-based personal-injury claims (auto, premises, dog bite). Note: wrongful death is 3 years (RSMo 537.100), and some intentional torts have a 2-year period (RSMo 516.140).
Is this calculator accurate?
It is a rough estimate to show the factors that drive value — not a prediction or an offer. Real settlements vary enormously. Treat any number here as a ballpark and consult a Missouri personal-injury attorney.
Disclaimer
This estimator is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a prediction of any outcome. RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm. The value of a personal-injury claim can only be assessed by a licensed attorney reviewing your specific facts.