Personal Injury Settlement Estimator
Estimate personal injury settlement from medical bills, lost wages, and a pain multiplier (1-5x).
Returns economic, general, and total damage estimates.
Personal injury settlement value is estimated using a combination of economic damages (calculable losses) and non-economic damages (pain, suffering, and quality-of-life impact). The final settlement depends on evidence, jurisdiction, liability percentage, and insurance policy limits.
Total estimated value formula: Claim Value = Economic Damages + Non-Economic Damages
Economic damages (special damages) — fully documentable:
- Medical expenses: All past and future treatment costs (hospital, surgery, PT, medication, aids)
- Lost wages: Hourly/salary rate × days unable to work (past lost wages)
- Future lost earning capacity: If permanent injury reduces future earning potential
- Property damage: Vehicle repair/replacement, damaged belongings
- Out-of-pocket costs: Transportation to appointments, home care, assistive devices
Non-economic damages (general damages) — two common methods:
Multiplier method: Non-Economic Damages = Economic Damages × Multiplier
Multiplier range: 1.5× (minor, full recovery) to 5× (severe permanent injury) — adjusted by injury severity, impact on life quality, and liability clarity.
Per diem method: Non-Economic Damages = Daily Rate × Days of Suffering
Daily rate typically = plaintiff’s daily wage rate. Applied until maximum medical improvement (MMI) is reached.
Comparative negligence reduction: If plaintiff is partially at fault, damages are reduced proportionally: Adjusted Value = Claim Value × (1 − Plaintiff’s Fault %)
Note: In contributory negligence states (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC), ANY plaintiff fault bars recovery entirely.
Policy limits — the practical ceiling: Settlements cannot exceed the defendant’s insurance policy limits (typically $25,000–$100,000 for auto; $100,000–$300,000 for homeowner). Large verdicts against underinsured defendants often go uncollected.
Attorney’s contingency fee: Typically 33% pre-lawsuit, 40% post-filing, sometimes up to 45% at trial.
Worked example: Rear-end collision. Whiplash + 2 broken ribs. Recovery: 6 months.
- Medical bills: $18,500
- 6 weeks off work at $800/week: $4,800
- Future PT (estimated): $3,500
- Property (vehicle): $6,200
- Total economic damages: $33,000
Multiplier: 2.5× (moderate injury, full recovery expected)
- Non-economic damages: $33,000 × 2.5 = $82,500
- Total gross claim: $115,500
- Defendant 100% at fault (clear liability)
- Attorney fee (33%): −$38,115
- Net to plaintiff: ~$77,385
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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