How this settlement calculator works
The estimate follows the approach insurers and attorneys commonly use to value a claim. Every step is shown in the result panel so you can see where the number comes from.
- Economic damages. Past and future medical costs, lost wages and lost earning capacity, property damage and other out-of-pocket costs.
- Non-economic damages. Pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life, estimated with the multiplier method: injury-related losses × 1.5 to 2 (minor) up to 4 to 5 (severe). Vehicle damage is not multiplied.
- Fault. Your state's comparative or contributory negligence rule is applied to the total.
- Net amount. The attorney fee percentage and any liens are subtracted to show what may reach you.
- Checks. If you add them, we compare the insurer's offer with your range, warn when the estimate exceeds the at-fault party's policy limit, and show your general filing deadline.
Worked example
A hypothetical Illinois driver has $14,000 in medical bills, $3,000 of expected future treatment, $6,000 in lost wages, $500 of other costs and $7,000 of vehicle damage. The injury is moderate (five months of physical therapy) and the insurer argues the driver was 10% at fault. Illinois uses the modified 51% rule.
| Economic damages (incl. vehicle) | $30,500 |
| Pain and suffering (2× to 3× of $23,500) | $47,000 to $70,500 |
| Total before fault | $77,500 to $101,000 |
| After 10% fault reduction | $70,000 to $91,000 |
| Kept after 33% fee and $2,500 lien | $44,000 to $58,500 |
The $100,000 policy limit is comfortably above the estimate, so collecting the full amount is realistic. If the insurer offered less than $70,000, the offer would sit below the estimated range.
Multipliers by injury severity
| Severity | Typical examples | Multiplier used |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Sprains, soft tissue injuries that heal within weeks | 1.5× to 2× |
| Moderate | Months of physical therapy or injections | 2× to 3× |
| Serious | Fractures, surgery, long recovery | 3× to 4× |
| Severe | Permanent impairment, life-changing injuries | 4× to 5× |
A lasting or permanent effect adds 0.5 to both ends of the range (capped at 5×). These ranges are a documented assumption, not a legal rule. Read the methodology for details.
What counts as economic damages
- Medical costs: ambulance, ER, hospital stays, imaging, specialists, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions and medical equipment. Use billed amounts and keep itemised statements.
- Future medical costs: treatment a doctor has recommended but you have not yet had, such as surgery or ongoing therapy.
- Lost wages: pay, overtime, bonuses and sick or vacation days used because of the injury. Pay stubs and a letter from your employer help.
- Lost earning capacity: reduced ability to earn in the future if you cannot return to the same work. Serious cases often need an economist's report.
- Out-of-pocket costs: travel to appointments, home help, childcare and home adaptations.
How fault changes your settlement
States handle shared fault in four ways: pure comparative negligence, modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar, modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar, and contributory negligence. The difference can be dramatic: at 50% fault, a claimant in California keeps half the award, a claimant in Georgia recovers nothing, and a claimant in Texas still recovers half. See comparative negligence by state.
Attorney fees, liens and what you keep
Most injury lawyers work on contingency, taking a percentage of the recovery. Health insurers, Medicare, Medicaid and some providers may also have a lien, which is a right to be repaid from your settlement for what they covered. Liens are often negotiable. The calculator shows the range after both so you can compare offers on the amount that actually reaches you.
When the estimate may be too high or too low
- Lower than shown: gaps in treatment, disputed liability, pre-existing conditions, low policy limits, or no-fault thresholds in states such as New York and Michigan.
- Higher than shown: clear liability, severe or permanent injuries, strong medical evidence, aggravating conduct such as drunk driving, or multiple insurance policies.
What to do next
- Keep every medical record, bill and receipt, and a simple diary of your symptoms.
- Check your state's filing deadline.
- Don't sign a release until you know the full extent of your injuries.
- If the injury is serious or fault is disputed, get a free consultation with a licensed attorney.