Motor Vehicle Settlement Trends in Missouri and Illinois (2014–2024)

Overview: This analysis compiles publicly available data on motor vehicle accident settlements in Missouri and Illinois from 2014 through 2024. It draws on legal case databases, court records, and law firm case results to identify patterns. The findings are organized by injury type, accident type, specific settlement examples (with amounts and sources), and overarching legal trends. All information is cited from credible sources for public reference.

Bodily Injury Type

Motor-vehicle settlements often correlate closely with the severity and type of bodily injury. Below we break down common injury categories and highlight typical settlement outcomes for each:

Fractures (Bone Injuries)

Broken bones frequently lead to substantial settlements, especially if surgeries or long-term complications are involved. For instance, a Missouri T-bone collision case in 2023 (Greene County) resulted in a $1.3 million settlement after the plaintiff suffered a displaced pelvic (acetabulum) fracture requiring surgery (Settlement reached before trial in T-bone collision) (Settlement reached before trial in T-bone collision). In another case, a 33-year-old motorcyclist hit by a left-turning delivery van sustained a fractured leg and arm; this Illinois claim settled for $3 million in 2021 (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). More moderate fracture cases, such as a single wrist fracture, see lower payouts (e.g. a $621 k jury verdict in Chicago for a car accident causing a fractured wrist (Case Results | Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Elman Joseph Samples Law Group, LLC)). Generally, multi-fracture and orthopedic surgery cases in MO/IL tend to settle in the high six or seven figures if liability is clear and insurance coverage is sufficient.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Head injuries and TBIs often command high settlements due to their life-altering impact. Severe TBIs (e.g. diffuse axonal injury or extended coma) can yield seven-figure recoveries. In one Missouri case, a passenger in a head-on crash suffered a severe TBI (6-day coma) and ultimately secured a $2 million total recovery by stacking insurance policies ($2 Million Dollar Recovery for Kansas City Brain Injury Survivor | Kevin McManus Law) ($2 Million Dollar Recovery for Kansas City Brain Injury Survivor | Kevin McManus Law). This involved maxing out the at-fault driver’s policy and an underinsured motorist policy. In Illinois, even moderate brain injuries like concussions with lingering effects have led to notable awards – a 2021 Cook County case with a concussion (post-concussion syndrome and memory loss) and herniated discs resulted in a $145 k verdict (Illinois Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements (2025)). The more severe the brain injury (loss of consciousness, cognitive deficits, etc.), the higher the likely settlement, often reaching policy limits or beyond due to long-term care costs.

Spinal Injuries (Neck and Back)

Spinal trauma ranges from soft-tissue sprains to serious vertebral damage or paralysis, with settlement values varying accordingly. Cases involving herniated discs and spine surgeries tend toward larger payouts. For example, a St. Louis County rear-end collision in 2021 caused a C3–C4 disc injury requiring a later disk replacement; a jury awarded $2.8 million for the victim’s ongoing neck pain and losses (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). Less catastrophic spinal injuries settle for moderate sums: a Missouri man who sustained fractures to his sacrum, pelvis, and ribs (plus internal injuries) in a 2022 car accident obtained a $340 k settlement (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). Even compression fractures without paralysis can fetch six figures (a passenger with a T2 vertebral fracture in a 2019 MO crash settled for ~$108 k (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center)). If a crash causes paralysis or permanent spinal cord damage, settlements can reach several million (often limited only by insurance). In sum, neck and back injuries are evaluated on required medical intervention (e.g. fusions, hardware), permanence of pain or disability, and impact on working capacity.

Whiplash & Soft Tissue Injuries

“Whiplash” and other soft-tissue injuries (muscle/ligament strains) are common in rear-end and low-speed accidents. These cases typically yield lower settlements unless complications arise. Many minor sprains/strains resolve with therapy, corresponding to five-figure payouts or policy minimums. In Illinois, for example, a routine rear-end collision causing acute cervical/lumbar strain (whiplash) led to a modest $35 k verdict in 2022 (Illinois Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements (2025)). Another Illinois case in 2020, where a 46-year-old woman was sideswiped and suffered knee and back sprains (and later anxiety driving), settled for $75 k (Illinois Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements (2025)) (Illinois Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements (2025)). Soft tissue injuries can settle higher if pain persists or affects daily life – e.g. a Missouri woman with multiple disc bulges from a crash took her case to trial and won $300 k from a jury in 2021 (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). Overall, soft-tissue injury claims in MO/IL often resolve in the low-to-mid five figures, but developing chronic pain, PTSD, or requiring invasive treatment can push values upward.

Burns

Burn injuries from vehicle crashes are less common but when they occur (such as in post-collision fires or fuel tank explosions) they are considered catastrophic. Severe burns demand extensive medical care (skin grafts, long hospitalizations) and cause disfigurement, factors which drive up settlement values. While specific public settlements for crash-related burns in Missouri or Illinois were not prominent in 2014–2024 reports, personal injury case law indicates third-degree burns often result in very high payouts due to their severity (Burn Injury Lawsuit Settlement Amounts). For instance, nationally, even a relatively small third-degree burn with permanent scarring can garner a six- or seven-figure settlement (Burn Injury Lawsuit Settlement Amounts). In MO and IL, one can expect burn injuries to be valuated similarly to other grave injuries (like TBIs or amputations), frequently hitting policy limits or involving structured settlements to cover future surgeries and care. Burns are also often coupled with pain & suffering awards given the extreme pain and long-term impact.

Fatalities (Wrongful Death)

Fatal car accidents understandably lead to some of the largest settlements or verdicts. Wrongful death compensation in Missouri and Illinois accounts for lost financial support, the deceased’s pain before death, and survivors’ losses. High-profile wrongful death cases can yield multi-million dollar results, especially if multiple victims or egregious negligence is involved. In Illinois, a notorious example is the case of two men killed by an off-duty drunk Chicago police officer: the City of Chicago approved a $20 million settlement in 2018 (each family receiving $10 million) (City Council approves settlement in alleged case of CPD ‘code of silence,’ fatal crash – ABC7 Chicago) (City Council approves settlement in alleged case of CPD ‘code of silence,’ fatal crash – ABC7 Chicago). Factors like DUI and a “code of silence” institutional failure amplified that payout. More typical wrongful death settlements in auto cases range lower – for instance, a Chicago pedestrian death case was settled for $975 k in 2020 (Case Results | Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Elman Joseph Samples Law Group, LLC), and a DuPage County case yielded a $1 million jury verdict in 2021 (Case Results | Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Elman Joseph Samples Law Group, LLC). Missouri wrongful death auto cases also vary: a 62-year-old woman’s death in a head-on crash led to a $10 million verdict for her family in 2023 (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center) (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center), whereas some fatal crash claims settle for policy limits (commonly $100k–$1M) if the at-fault driver’s coverage is limited. Overall, wrongful death awards depend on the decedent’s age, earnings, and the circumstances of the crash, with Illinois urban counties seeing some of the largest “nuclear” verdicts in recent years for catastrophic deaths.

Accident Type

The manner of collision plays a significant role in settlement evaluation, as certain accident types tend to produce certain injury patterns and liability considerations. Below is a breakdown by accident scenario, with representative outcomes in Missouri (MO) and Illinois (IL):

T-Bone & Intersection Collisions

Side-impact crashes at intersections (often caused by running red lights or stop signs) can cause serious injuries due to the lateral force. In Missouri, multiple T-bone cases illustrate a wide range of results. A Springfield, MO man T-boned by a car that failed to stop at a sign suffered a broken pelvis and other injuries; after surgery and missed work, he settled for $1.3 million (the at-fault’s policy limits) just before trial (Settlement reached before trial in T-bone collision) (Settlement reached before trial in T-bone collision). In St. Louis County, a jury awarded $70 k to a woman for right knee injuries after she was T-boned by a red-light runner (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). More dramatically, another St. Louis County jury rendered a $10 million verdict to a man who was T-boned and suffered ankle and spine injuries that ended his career (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center) – a sign of a “nuclear” verdict for a non-fatal injury. In Illinois, T-bone/intersection crashes similarly range in value. A minor passenger in a left-turn T-bone accident (defendant turned left without yielding) with relatively minor injuries (facial lacerations and scarring) settled for $50 k in 2023 (Illinois Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements (2025)). But a more severe intersection crash involving a commercial vehicle can go much higher: a 2018 Illinois case involving a DUI crash at an intersection (two deaths) led to the $20 million city settlement noted above (City Council approves settlement in alleged case of CPD ‘code of silence,’ fatal crash – ABC7 Chicago). Overall, intersection collisions often involve clear right-of-way violations, making liability straightforward; settlements then hinge on injury severity and insurance. In both states, T-bone crashes causing serious harm (broken bones, head or spine trauma) often reach six or seven figures, while those with minor injuries (whiplash, bruises) may stay in the five-figure range.

Left-Turn Accidents

Left-turn crashes are a common sub-type of intersection accident worth special mention. These occur when a left-turning driver misjudges oncoming traffic and collides with an approaching vehicle or pedestrian. The left-turn driver is often found at fault for failing to yield. In Missouri, for example, a case where a delivery van made an unsafe left turn and struck an oncoming motorcycle resulted in a $3 million settlement to the injured motorcyclist (who suffered multiple fractures) (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). In Illinois, a negligent left turn by a driver in front of an oncoming car led to the T-bone collision mentioned above ($50 k for a minor’s scars) (Illinois Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements (2025)). Because left-turn crashes can be high-speed, injuries are frequently severe (head-on or side impacts). Insurance companies often concede liability in clear-cut left-turn scenarios, so the negotiation focuses on damages. If injuries are catastrophic (e.g. brain injury, death), seven-figure resolutions are possible (many wrongful death cases stem from left-turn crashes). If injuries are moderate, settlements typically correspond to economic losses and pain—e.g. low six figures for fractures or surgical injuries. Both Missouri and Illinois law require left turners to yield, so barring unusual facts, plaintiffs in these accidents have a strong liability case.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end impacts are among the most common accidents. Injury values depend on speed and resulting trauma. Low-speed rear-enders might cause soft tissue injuries (with settlements often under $50 k), whereas high-speed crashes can be devastating. In Missouri, a notable highway rear-end case in 2023 saw a distracted driver (reading Facebook messages) slam into another vehicle; the victim suffered head, neck, spinal cord, and multiple orthopedic injuries, settling pre-trial for $1.25 million (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). Another Missouri case involved a woman rear-ended while turning left, injuring her neck, back, shoulder, and knee – that claim settled for $1 million, again likely limited by the available insurance (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). On the other hand, an uncomplicated whiplash from a slow rear-end might only yield tens of thousands (as seen in Illinois cases of that nature (Illinois Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements (2025))). Rear-end collisions where the plaintiff has pre-existing conditions can complicate the outcome; for example, if a plaintiff’s degenerative disc disease is worsened by the crash, it might still justify a significant payout with proper medical evidence. Litigation data show that juries can be generous in some rear-end cases: a St. Charles County, MO jury awarded $300 k in 2021 to a woman with multiple disc bulges after being rear-ended (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). Generally, in IL and MO, rear-end accidents with clear liability result in settlements roughly proportional to injury severity: policy-limit settlements are common for serious injuries, whereas minor injury claims might be capped by the defendant’s minimal insurance (often $25k in IL, $25k or $50k in MO for basic policies).

Pedestrian Accidents

When vehicles hit pedestrians, injuries are often severe given the lack of protection. Consequently, pedestrian accident settlements in both states skew higher than typical two-car fender-benders. In Illinois, one Chicago case illustrates this: a woman struck while walking in 2019 suffered significant injuries and the lawsuit settled for $775 k (Case Results | Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Elman Joseph Samples Law Group, LLC). In Missouri, a recent example involved a pedestrian in a crosswalk who sustained fractures to his tibia and fibula (leg bones) after being hit by a car; a jury awarded $50 k in 2023 (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center) (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). (The relatively low award in that MO case may have been influenced by liability disputes or conservative jury tendencies, as broken-leg cases often settle higher when fault is clear.) Another Missouri incident in 2021 involved a 13-year-old pedestrian and resulted in a $1 million settlement with a daycare’s insurer (that case had unique facts of inadequate supervision) (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). Key factors in pedestrian cases include whether the pedestrian was in a crosswalk or crossing with the light (which strengthens liability against the driver) and the age/earnings of the victim (affecting damages). Both IL and MO impose duties on drivers to yield to pedestrians; if a driver was speeding, intoxicated, or hit a pedestrian in a designated crossing, settlements tend to account for punitive-worthy negligence. Policy limits can constrain these cases; a pedestrian hit by a minimally insured driver might only recover the $25k policy, unless there are additional defendants or underinsured coverage. However, when severe injuries occur (brain injuries, multiple fractures, or death), and if the at-fault has substantial insurance or assets, settlements in the millions are attainable as seen in several urban cases.

Commercial Truck & Bus Accidents

Accidents involving semi-trucks, buses, or other commercial vehicles usually lead to higher settlement figures, reflecting both the severe damage these large vehicles can inflict and the larger insurance policies commercial carriers carry. In Missouri, for example, a collision with a tractor-trailer that caused a back injury requiring surgery led to a $250 k settlement (policy limits) for the injured driver (Case Results – Brown & Crouppen). But many truck cases resolve for far more: Page Law (a firm practicing in MO and IL) reports a $5.825 million settlement for a fatal tractor-trailer crash and multiple seven-figure truck case settlements (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois) (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois). One Page Law case involved a neck injury where a tractor-trailer pinned the victim’s vehicle; the initial offer was $700k, but after aggressive litigation it settled for $1.2 million (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois). In Illinois, large truck accident outcomes are likewise hefty. A noteworthy Illinois settlement in 2020 was $16 million for a motorcyclist hit by an “auto porter” (a type of transport truck) – the crash caused a leg amputation and other injuries, and the plaintiff sued both the driver and his employer (Illinois Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements (2025)). That case underscores that when corporate defendants are involved (employers of negligent drivers or trucking companies), plaintiffs often pursue claims of negligent hiring or entrustment and can reach beyond typical policy limits. Additionally, bus accidents can involve multiple injured parties; one Missouri charter bus rear-end crash case settled for $2 million with the injured driver who was hit (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois) (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois). Overall, trends show Missouri and Illinois truck/bus accidents regularly producing settlements over $1 million, especially if wrongful death or permanent disability is involved. The presence of commercial insurance (often $1M+ policies) means victims are more likely to recover full compensation compared to crashes with personal vehicles.

Multi-Vehicle Pile-Ups

Multi-car pile-ups (such as chain-reaction crashes on interstates or fog-related highway pile-ups) introduce complex questions of comparative fault but can also lead to significant combined settlements. Missouri’s pure comparative fault law allows an injured party to recover even if they were partly at fault, which is often relevant in multi-vehicle crashes. Illinois uses modified comparative fault (51% bar rule), so identifying the primary cause is critical. In practice, these cases often settle by apportioning insurer contributions once fault is sorted out. While specific settlement figures for large pile-ups are not always public, one illustrative Missouri case involved a 3-car collision with a trucking element: a client injured in a three-car chain crash secured $700 k pre-suit in a settlement (Case Results – Brown & Crouppen). In Illinois, a notorious example of a multi-vehicle highway crash was the 2014 I-55 pile-up in heavy fog (though individual settlements in that incident were confidential, the severity of a multi-fatality pile-up would suggest high aggregate payouts). Generally, injuries in multi-car accidents range widely – from minor to fatal – so each claimant’s settlement corresponds to their specific harm and clarity of another’s fault. These accidents highlight the importance of insurance stacking: multiple at-fault drivers may each have limited coverage, so victims often tap into underinsured motorist policies. A trend in both states is mediation or global settlement conferences to resolve multi-claimant crashes. When litigation proceeds, juries must allocate fault percentages, which can reduce a plaintiff’s net recovery (especially in IL if a plaintiff is found largely at fault in the chain). Despite these challenges, when a single negligent actor is clearly responsible for a chain reaction (e.g., a trucker’s negligence causing a highway pile-up), that defendant’s insurer may settle major injury claims in the seven-figure range to avoid trial.

Settlement Amounts & Attribution

Below is a selection of notable motor vehicle settlements in Missouri and Illinois (2014–2024), along with their amounts and sources (law firms or news reports). These examples illustrate the spectrum of outcomes and the parties involved:

Illinois – Notable Settlements:

Missouri – Notable Settlements:

  • $6,000,000 Settlement (2020, Missouri) – Truck vs. Car Catastrophic Injury: A client was hit by a commercial box truck, resulting in severe injuries. Brown & Crouppen Law Firm obtained a $6 million settlement for the victim (Case Results – Brown & Crouppen). Source: Brown & Crouppen case results.
  • $3,000,000 Settlement (2021, Missouri) – Motorcycle Crash (Left Turn): A delivery van in Missouri made an unsafe left turn and struck a 33-year-old motorcyclist. The rider suffered fractures in his right leg and left arm, requiring multiple surgeries. His attorney filed claims including vicarious liability against the van’s employer, leading to a $3 million settlement (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). Source: Missouri verdicts and settlements report.
  • $1,325,000 Settlement (2019, Missouri) – Fatal Tractor-Trailer Crash: A fatal accident on Highway 55 (Ste. Genevieve County) involving a semi-truck led to a wrongful death case. The lawsuit against the truck driver, trucking company, a construction contractor, and the state transportation department settled for $1.325 million (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois) (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois). Source: Page Law firm results.
  • $1,250,000 Settlement (2023, Missouri) – Rear-End Collision: A woman was rear-ended on I-270 in Maryland Heights, MO by a driver using his phone. She suffered serious head, neck, spinal, shoulder, rib, foot, and hand injuries, with multiple surgeries and psychological trauma. The case settled for $1.25 million prior to trial (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). Source: Missouri accident settlement report.
  • $1,200,000 Settlement (2018, Missouri) – Truck Accident (Neck Injury): After a tractor-trailer collided with the plaintiff’s truck, the victim’s vehicle was crushed between the semi and another car. He sustained a serious neck injury. The highest pre-suit offer was $700k, but after a lawsuit and discovery exposing safety failures, the trucking company settled for $1.2 million (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois). Source: Page Law results.
  • $1,000,000 Settlement (2022, Missouri) – Head-On Collision: A Missouri woman was hit head-on by an oncoming driver who crossed the center line, causing head and lower extremity injuries. The case settled for $1 million, exhausting all available insurance coverage (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois). Source: Page Law results.
  • $100,000 Settlement (2021, Missouri) – Intersection Crash (Soft Tissue): A man T-boned at a Kansas City intersection suffered a sternal fracture and soft tissue injuries (head, back, knee pain with some memory issues). He underwent therapy and had ongoing back pain. The claim settled for $100k (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center), likely the at-fault driver’s liability limit. Source: Missouri settlement compilation.

(The above examples are drawn from reported cases; actual settlement terms can vary and may be confidential in some instances. Amounts are often rounded or approximated based on available reports.)

Legal Trends & Influencing Factors

Analyzing Missouri and Illinois settlements from 2014–2024 reveals several trends and factors that influence payout amounts:

  • Insurance Policy Limits as a Ceiling: In both states, many settlements cluster around common insurance limits. Policy limit settlements occur frequently, as seen in multiple examples (e.g. $250k policy paid in a Missouri DUI crash injury case ($250K Car Accident Settlement After Probable DUI Crash in Kansas City – Brown & Crouppen), $100k in a minor injury case). Often, a settlement “plateaus” at the defendant’s coverage cap unless bad-faith insurance tactics enable more. For instance, Page Law noted an insurer initially offered only $95k on a trucking injury claim but later paid the full $1 million policy once evidence of greater negligence surfaced (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois) (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois). In rare cases, insurers may pay above policy limits to avoid bad faith exposure – one Missouri case saw an insurer pay 2× the $1M limit (i.e. $2M) after wrongfully denying coverage (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois). Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage also played a role in augmenting recoveries, as demonstrated by the $2 million TBI case where multiple policies were stacked ($2 Million Dollar Recovery for Kansas City Brain Injury Survivor | Kevin McManus Law) ($2 Million Dollar Recovery for Kansas City Brain Injury Survivor | Kevin McManus Law). In summary, available insurance is often the primary determinant of the maximum settlement, with many cases resolving at the limits of one or more policies.
  • Comparative Negligence Impacts: How fault is shared can reduce payouts, especially in Illinois. Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule (51% bar) – if a plaintiff is 51% or more at fault, they recover nothing; if less, their recovery is reduced by their fault percentage. Missouri by contrast applies pure comparative negligence, allowing recovery even if a plaintiff is 99% at fault (with damages reduced accordingly) (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center) (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). These rules shape settlement negotiations. Defendants often allege plaintiff fault to leverage a discount. For example, in a Missouri trial over a left-turn/T-bone crash, the first jury awarded $1.5 M, but on appeal a second jury found the plaintiff partially at fault for turning and awarded $100k, cut to $85k after 15% comparative fault (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). That dramatic reduction highlights risk in litigating fault. In Illinois, a defendant in a 2020 sideswipe case argued the victim was partly negligent, which likely tempered the settlement to $75k (Illinois Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements (2025)). Conversely, clear evidence of zero plaintiff fault (e.g. being rear-ended while stationary) usually leads to full recovery of damages. Plaintiffs’ lawyers in both states aim to refute any contributory negligence to avoid diminishing the value. Overall, Illinois plaintiffs must be mindful of the 51% cutoff – a strong liability case is crucial – whereas Missouri plaintiffs retain the ability to recover something even if they bore substantial fault, which can encourage at-fault parties to still settle rather than face uncertain jury apportionment.
  • Litigation vs. Pre-Litigation Settlement: There is a notable pattern of higher payouts when cases proceed toward litigation or trial, as opposed to quick pre-suit settlements. Insurance companies often start with low offers for injury claims, but filing a lawsuit and approaching trial can drive them to offer more. Several examples show this “bump” after litigation steps: a Missouri car crash victim who initially got a $700k offer ended up with $1.2 M after suing and conducting depositions, forcing the defense to reassess risk (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois). In another case, a trucking company raised an offer from $95k to $1 M once the plaintiffs uncovered damaging evidence in discovery (Verdicts & Settlements – Page Law in Missouri & Illinois). Similarly, Brown & Crouppen’s attorneys had to threaten a lawsuit focusing on a drunk driver’s history to get an insurer to pay the full $250k policy, after a low $50k offer ($250K Car Accident Settlement After Probable DUI Crash in Kansas City – Brown & Crouppen) ($250K Car Accident Settlement After Probable DUI Crash in Kansas City – Brown & Crouppen). Trial verdicts in IL and MO can sometimes far exceed pre-trial offers – for example, an Illinois jury award of $980k in an auto injury case, or Missouri juries giving $300k for soft-tissue and $2.8M for a neck surgery case, versus much lower offers before trial. This trend has two implications: (1) Claimants with strong cases often benefit from not accepting the first offer, and (2) defendants take a gamble by going to trial, as sympathetic plaintiffs can get “runaway” verdicts. However, litigation also brings risk: a plaintiff may end up with less if a jury is not convinced (as seen when a second trial cut an initial verdict by over 90% in the Taco Bell left-turn case (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center)). Thus, parties carefully weigh the strength of evidence. The general trend is that complex or high-value cases do end up in litigation, while more clear-cut or policy-limited cases settle early.
  • “Nuclear” Verdicts and Venue Differences: Illinois, particularly Cook County (Chicago), has a reputation for plaintiff-friendly venues that produce nuclear verdicts (very large awards exceeding $10M) (Cook County – Judicial Hellholes). Between 2010–2019 Illinois ranked 6th in the U.S. for number of $10M+ verdicts, with Cook County accounting for the majority (Cook County – Judicial Hellholes). Since 2022, Illinois has seen a flurry of nuclear verdicts (13 reported verdicts over $10M up through late 2023) (Cook County – Judicial Hellholes), including some massive awards (though many are medical malpractice or other civil cases). This environment pressures defendants to settle high-exposure cases. In fact, in 2023, 7-Eleven agreed to a $91 million settlement before trial in an Illinois case where a car hit a customer in their store, to avoid risking a jury verdict in Cook County (Cook County – Judicial Hellholes). In Missouri, certain venues like the City of St. Louis and Jackson County (Kansas City) are also known for generous juries, but Missouri’s caps on punitive damages and recent tort reform measures provide some constraint. Even so, Missouri juries have delivered eight-figure awards in trucking and accident cases (e.g. $10M and $11M verdicts in 2023 for a fatal crash and a fire death, respectively (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center) (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center)). Defense attorneys often try to transfer cases out of plaintiff-friendly venues, while plaintiffs seek to file in venues known for higher awards. The “hellhole” reputation of Cook County has led Illinois insurers to factor in the risk of a big verdict when negotiating – thus, a case that might settle for $500k in a rural county could settle for $1M in Cook County, all else equal. In Missouri, the difference is slightly less stark between venues, but urban vs. rural jury pools do show some variance in award size. The upshot is that both states see higher settlements in jurisdictions with historically higher verdicts, as both sides use that history to calibrate their expectations.
  • Role of Liability and Evidence: Strong evidence of defendant negligence (or egregious behavior) tends to increase settlement values. DUI cases, for example, often settle for high amounts because no insurer wants to risk a jury outrage (as seen in the $20M Chicago DUI settlement (City Council approves settlement in alleged case of CPD ‘code of silence,’ fatal crash – ABC7 Chicago)). Likewise, if a crash was caused by a trucking company’s safety violations or a rideshare driver logged into an app (bringing a larger corporate policy into play), those factors drive up potential recovery. Conversely, cases with ambiguous liability or potential plaintiff fault may settle lower to reflect the risk. In multi-vehicle crashes, establishing a clear cause is crucial – settlements might be delayed until accident reconstructions are done. The presence of solid expert reports (medical experts linking injuries to the crash, economists projecting future losses) also boosts settlement amounts by substantiating the damages. In the Missouri pelvic fracture case, a life care plan estimated $613k–$923k in future costs (Settlement reached before trial in T-bone collision) (Settlement reached before trial in T-bone collision), which supported the $1.3M policy limit settlement. In summary, the more clearly one can demonstrate severe damages and the defendant’s fault, the closer to the upper bound of available insurance the settlement will be.
  • Litigation Climate and Reforms: Over the 2014–2024 period, both states saw changes in their legal landscapes. Illinois had no caps on personal injury damages (except punitive damages require a high bar), which, combined with its comparative fault rule, means potentially unlimited economic and non-economic damages if liability is proven. Missouri, on the other hand, reinstated caps on non-economic damages but only for medical malpractice cases, not for standard auto injury cases. Thus, pain and suffering awards in Missouri auto cases remain uncapped, allowing large verdicts for severe injuries. Missouri’s switch to a stricter standard for expert testimony (the Daubert standard, adopted in 2017) may have weeded out some speculative claims, but hasn’t visibly depressed settlement values in auto cases. Another factor is the publicity of large verdicts – high verdicts reported in media can influence negotiations in subsequent cases (“anchoring” expectations). Attorneys in IL and MO closely watch annual verdict reporters to gauge the value of claims. For example, seeing a $10M verdict for a non-fatal injury in St. Louis (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center) might embolden other plaintiffs to demand more, while insurers might point to cases where juries only gave $50k for a broken leg (if they believe a similar case has over-inflated demands) (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center) (Missouri Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements — Lawsuit Information Center). Overall, the trend in the last decade has been rising compensation for severe injuries, partly driven by medical cost inflation and partly by a greater willingness of juries to award large sums for life-changing injuries. Insurance policy limits remain the most practical cap in settlements, but when multiple policies or defendants are in play, the sky can be the limit, especially in plaintiff-friendly courts.