A permanent disability from a truck accident changes everything. Your ability to work, enjoy activities, and live independently may be forever altered. When a large commercial vehicle crash causes life-changing injuries, the financial and emotional consequences extend far beyond the initial accident.
Missouri law recognizes that victims deserve compensation that addresses both immediate needs and lifelong challenges. Below, Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet’s experienced Kansas City truck accident lawyers share insights on the full scope of permanent disability damages available in relation to Missouri truck accident permanent disability claims. Understanding your rights helps ensure you pursue the compensation and damages available under Missouri law.
Truck Accident Economic Damages
Economic damages represent the measurable financial losses resulting from a Missouri truck accident and permanent disability arising from the crash.
Medical Expenses and Future Care Costs
Permanent disabilities resulting from Missouri truck accidents typically require extensive medical treatment that extends far beyond emergency care. Missouri courts recognize that permanent disabilities create lifelong medical needs, such as:
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Emergency room visits
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Initial hospitalization costs
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Surgical procedures
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Specialist consultations
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Rehabilitation services
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Physical therapy
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Prescription medications
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Medical equipment
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Home modifications for wheelchair accessibility
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Ongoing medical monitoring
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Future procedures
Lost Income and Diminished Earning Capacity
Permanent disability often prevents a truck accident victim from returning to their previous employment or earning the same income as before the injury. Compensation is based on the injured individual's remaining work capacity and the economic impact of permanent limitations, and may include:
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Wages lost during recovery and treatment periods
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Reduced earning capacity if it is not possible for you to perform your previous job
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Lost employment benefits, such as health insurance and retirement contributions
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Retraining costs for new career opportunities
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The difference between your pre-accident and post-accident earning potential
Additional Economic Losses
Medical expenses, lost income, and reduced earning capacity are not the only economic damages that may be available in a Missouri truck accident claim that involves permanent disability. Other financial damages may include:
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Vehicle repair or replacement costs
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Transportation expenses for medical appointments
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Home health care
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Personal assistance services
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Adaptive equipment
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Assistive devices
Non-Economic Damages for Life-Altering Injuries
Non-economic damages compensate for the intangible ways your life and well-being are affected as a result of a truck accident leading to a permanent disability.
Pain and Suffering
Permanent disabilities often involve ongoing physical pain that affects daily activities. The severity and permanence of your condition affect the value of pain and suffering damages. Non-economic pain and suffering damages may include:
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Chronic pain and discomfort
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Physical limitations
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Loss of mobility
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Emotional distress
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Mental anguish
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Anxiety or depression
Loss of Quality of Life
Permanent disabilities can prevent you from enjoying activities that once brought meaning and joy. Non-economic damages associated with loss of quality of life may address things like:
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Being unable to participate in hobbies
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Inability to participate in recreational activities
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Loss of independence in daily tasks
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Changes in family relationships and social interactions
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Reduced ability to travel
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Loss of ability to engage in previously enjoyed experiences
Loss of Consortium
Spouses affected by their partner’s permanent disability arising from a Missouri truck accident may recover damages for the loss of companionship, affection, and support they experience. Loss of consortium includes changes to your relationship's physical, emotional, and practical aspects.
Factors That Influence Compensation Amounts
A number of factors determine the value of a permanent disability claim following a Missouri truck accident.
Severity and Type of Disability
The extent to which your disability affects essential life functions influences your claim's value. For example, complete paralysis typically results in higher compensation than partial mobility limitations.
Age and Life Expectancy
Younger victims generally receive higher compensation than older ones, because their disabilities will affect them for a longer period of time. Life expectancy calculations help determine the duration of future care needs and lost earning capacity.
Pre-Accident Lifestyle and Income Level
Factors like your previous income level, career trajectory, and activity level are considered as baseline measurements for calculating the value of losses. For example, higher-earning professionals typically receive larger awards for lost earning capacity than those with lower pre-injury earnings.
Available Evidence
Critical evidence like medical records, employment documentation, and expert testimony play an important role in supporting your claim's value. Thorough documentation strengthens your position during settlement negotiations or trial proceedings.
Pursuing Full Compensation in Missouri
Missouri does follow comparative fault rules, which means that compensation may be reduced if you contributed to the accident. However, trucking companies and drivers must comply with strict federal safety regulations, making driver error a common factor in permanent disability cases. Additionally, multiple parties, including trucking companies, vehicle manufacturers, and maintenance providers, may also bear responsibility in a truck accident.
Working with an experienced Kansas City truck accident lawyer, such as the attorneys on the Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet team, can help identify all potential sources of compensation and structure your claim so as to pursue the maximum recovery available under Missouri law. Professional legal representation helps protect your rights while you focus on adapting to your new circumstances and receiving necessary medical care.