What Damages Can Sexual Assault Survivors Recover in Kansas City?

Sexual assault survivors in Kansas City may recover compensation for medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and certain other damages resulting from an assault. In cases involving particularly egregious conduct, Missouri and Kansas courts may also award punitive damages to punish the perpetrator.

Economic Damages Cover Tangible Losses for Sexual Assault Survivors in Kansas City

Economic damages compensate for financial losses you can calculate and have clear monetary values, including:

• Medical expenses may include emergency room visits for injuries sustained during the assault, sexual assault forensic examinations (SANE exams), treatment for sexually transmitted infections, emergency contraception, medications for physical injuries, and follow-up care with physicians or specialists
• Therapy and counseling costs can make up a significant portion of economic damages, as trauma from sexual assault often requires years of mental health treatment
• Lost income compensates survivors for time missed from work, whether for medical appointments, court proceedings, or inability to work due to psychological trauma.
• Relocation costs when a survivor must move to feel safe
• The cost of security measures, such as alarm systems, new locks, and other safety upgrades

Non-Economic Damages Address Psychological Harm

Non-economic damages compensate for losses that don’t come with receipts but are just as real. These non-economic damages can overshadow economic losses for many assault survivors, and frequently include:

• Pain and suffering addressing the physical pain from injuries and the ongoing psychological pain from the trauma.
• Emotional distress covering the fear, humiliation, shame, and loss of dignity that survivors often endure. Courts recognize that sexual assault violates a person’s fundamental sense of safety and autonomy.
• Loss of enjoyment of life compensating for activities you can no longer enjoy, relationships that have suffered, and the overall diminishment in your quality of life.

The lack of caps on damages in both Kansas and Missouri for many general injury claims means that juries may award compensation they determine is appropriate.

Punitive Damages Punish Wrongdoers

Punitive damages go beyond compensatory damages and are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar heinous conduct in the future. Missouri allows punitive damages when there’s clear and convincing evidence of willful misconduct under RSMo § 510.261. Kansas requires clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with willful conduct, fraud, or malicious behavior under K.S.A. § 60-3702.

Sexual assault inherently involves the kind of intentional, harmful conduct that often justifies imposing punitive damages. These awards can be substantial, sometimes exceeding compensatory damages by many multiples.

Do Not Wait to Call a Lawyer for Your Sexual Assault Case in Kansas City

If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you do not have to face this journey alone, as our Kansas City sexual assault lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and explore every available avenue for justice.

At Wendt Law Firm, our compassionate and experienced attorneys handle every case with the sensitivity and discretion survivors deserve. Call us today at (816) 531-4415 or contact us online for your free consultation. We have recovered millions for our clients, but justice is the most important consideration in cases like yours.