Tort Victims' Compensation

History

The Missouri Tort Victims' Compensation Fund ("the Fund") was established by legislation passed in 1987. Revenue into the Fund is generated by a portion of moneys paid as punitive damages in civil lawsuits in Missouri.

In 2001 the Missouri General Assembly enacted legislation authorizing claims to be made against the Fund, giving the Division of Workers' Compensation the duty to evaluate those claims, and setting up criteria for the evaluation of those claims.

Purpose of the Fund

The purpose of the Fund is to help compensate people who have been injured due to the negligence or recklessness of another (such as in a motor vehicle collision or a hunting accident), and who have been unable to obtain full compensation because the party at fault (the "tortfeasor") had no insurance, or inadequate insurance, or has filed for bankruptcy, or for other reasons specified in the law.