From high-speed collisions with semi-trucks to devastating medical malpractice, Kansas City residents seem to be no strangers to negligence-caused injuries. While personal injury statistics do not indicate the exact number of personal injury cases filed each year, there are a few trends, both in our city and the United States overall, indicating the number of personal injury claims is on the rise.
As our Kansas City personal injury lawyers well know, personal injury claims are often the only vehicle for injured victims to secure the fair compensation they deserve for medical expenses and other losses. But whether the number of personal injury suits increases or decreases, the results for your individual claim are unique and rest on the strength of your case against the defendant.
Challenges with estimating the number of personal injury claims in Kansas City
The number of lawsuits filed for damages doesn’t accurately reflect the number of personal injury claims in KCMO. Some people may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit but don’t realize they do. Medical malpractice and misdiagnosis is one area of personal injury law where victims may not realize that they have a valid claim and chalk up their treatment as “just bad luck” or a “poor response to treatment.”
The numbers can get further clouded because some types of personal injury claims are more likely to be settled out of court, sometimes even before a lawsuit is even filed in Jackson, Clay, Platte, or Cass County civil courts. Motor vehicle accidents, for example, often settle out of court without requiring the injured driver to initiate civil action or pursue the case to trial.
Other types of personal injury cases go to trial much more frequently, so looking at just the numbers may present a skewed vision of what types of injuries qualify for personal injury damages. Product liability cases, for example, are rarely settled without an initial lawsuit being filed. Many of these cases may go to trial as part of a class action lawsuit, in which hundreds of plaintiffs band together as a unit with common interests to pursue claims for damages against the negligent product manufacturer. Even looking at class action claims can skew the numbers of personal injury claims. While this type of civil action represents hundreds, sometimes thousands, of injured plaintiffs, only one case is filed, not hundreds.
Potential personal injury plaintiffs in Kansas City
Let’s look more at the potential for personal injury lawsuits, both in Kansas City and the country:
- Nearly 400,000 personal injury claims are filed each year across the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Justice
- On average, 95% of personal injury lawsuits end in a pre-trial settlement
- The year ending March 31, 2024, saw personal injury claims and product liability claims increase to 78%
- In 2024, there were 11,241 workplace injuries in Jackson County, MO, alone, with 14 fatalities, reflecting the national total of an average of a million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses
- There is an average of 17,000 medical malpractice cases filed in the U.S. each year
- Only about 5% of personal injury claims are resolved by a judge or jury
These statistics indicate that more people have a potential claim than they realize and that most personal injury claims are resolved without a trial. If you aren’t sure of your legal options, consultation with a personal injury lawyer is a smart first step.
Need help filing a personal injury claim?
Are you exploring your legal options after being injured in an accident? Filing a personal injury suit can be overwhelming, especially when you’re focused on recovery. You deserve answers, support, and a legal team that puts your needs first.
Contact Langdon & Emison at (866) 931-2115 for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. We’re here to help you understand your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.