Personal Injury Settlement Calculator

The Mid-Estimate represents the statistically probable settlement value based on your specific inputs and your state's legal framework. It's calculated using: (Medical Bills + Lost Wages) × Severity Multiplier × (1 - Fault Percentage). This is not a guaranteed payout but the figure around which actual settlements typically cluster when liability is clear and injuries are well-documented. The Low and High estimates represent the realistic range (±25%) that accounts for variables like insurance policy limits and negotiation leverage.

Your state's fault system directly impacts how much you can recover. In pure comparative fault states (CA, FL, NY), you can recover even if 99% at fault—your award simply reduces by your fault percentage. In modified comparative fault states (TX, IL, GA), you're barred from recovery if you're 51% or more at fault (or 50% in some states like GA). In contributory negligence states (AL, MD, NC, VA), even 1% fault bars all recovery. Your calculator applies these rules automatically—selecting your state adjusts the legal parameters behind the scenes.

Your multiplier is determined by injury severity, case type, and how the injury impacts your daily life. The calculator uses a dynamic range based on real jury verdict data: Minor injuries (soft tissue, whiplash) use 1.5–2×; Moderate injuries (fractures requiring surgery) use 2.5–3.5×; Severe injuries (permanent disability, amputation) use 4–5.5×; Catastrophic injuries (TBI, spinal cord damage) use 6–8.5×. The calculator then applies case-type boosts—truck accidents get +20% due to commercial insurance, medical malpractice gets +10% due to specialized legal requirements.

Economic damages are tangible losses you can document with receipts and bills: medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and future care costs. Your calculator totals these first. Non-economic damages are subjective losses: physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship. These are calculated using your state's legal standards and the multiplier method. The key insight: economic damages are never capped in any state; non-economic damages are capped in many states (particularly for medical malpractice).

No. The calculator shows a floor, not a ceiling. Insurance adjusters' first offers typically represent 30-50% of the final settlement reached through negotiation. Your calculator's Mid-Estimate represents what your case is worth with full documentation and skilled negotiation. Real settlements increase when you can document all medical expenses (including projected future care), demonstrate clear liability through evidence like dashcam footage or police reports, and present a credible threat of trial.

Your recovery is capped by the at-fault party's insurance policy limits. Your calculator includes an "Insurance Reality" filter showing the collectible range—if your calculated value exceeds available coverage, your actual recovery is limited to the policy limits (unless you have UM/UIM coverage or can pursue other liable parties). This is why truck accidents (with $750,000+ commercial policies) often yield larger settlements than personal auto accidents (with $25,000–$100,000 limits).

Your calculator displays your state's average settlement based on jury verdict research and insurance settlement data. Nationally, the median settlement is approximately $40,500–$52,000, but this varies dramatically: California averages $75,000; Texas averages $52,000; Florida averages $60,000; New York averages $80,000. These averages factor in case type (car accidents settle lower than truck accidents), injury severity (minor injuries settle lower than catastrophic), and state-specific legal rules (contributory negligence states have lower average recoveries).

Settlement timelines vary based on case complexity, injury severity, and liability clarity. Simple cases (clear liability, minor injuries, adequate insurance): 3–6 months. Moderate cases (disputed liability, moderate injuries, multiple treatment providers): 6–18 months. Complex cases (severe injuries, contested liability, multiple defendants, catastrophic damages): 1–3 years. Your calculator helps you understand your case's complexity level by showing how changes in inputs (like adding FMCSR violations or changing the state) affect the timeline estimate.

While you can use the calculator independently, it functions as a diagnostic tool to help you understand your case value before consulting an attorney. Victims with attorneys typically settle for 3.5× more than those who negotiate alone. Your calculator helps you identify whether an insurance offer is fair—if it's significantly below your Mid-Estimate, it's worth a lawyer's review. Most personal injury attorneys work on contingency (no win, no fee), so there's no upfront cost to get professional feedback.

In no-fault states (FL, NY, MI, MN, NJ, PA, HI, KS, KY, MA, ND, UT), your own insurance (PIP) covers initial medical bills regardless of fault. You can only sue for pain and suffering if your injury meets the legal "serious injury" threshold: permanent injury, significant disfigurement, or disability lasting 90+ days. Your calculator accounts for this by showing a lower collectible estimate in no-fault states unless you qualify for the serious injury exception. This is why your state selection dramatically changes the calculator output.