Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Estimate your personal injury settlement by entering medical costs, future care needs, lost wages, and the defendant's liability percentage. Ideal for gauging claim value before negotiating with an insurance company or hiring an attorney.
About this calculator
This calculator estimates a personal injury settlement using the multiplier method adjusted for comparative liability. The formula is: Settlement = ((medicalCosts + futureCareCosts) × injurySeverity + lostWages) × (liabilityPercent ÷ 100). Medical and future care costs are first multiplied by the injury severity multiplier to capture non-economic damages like pain and suffering — a multiplier of 1 represents minor injuries while 5 represents catastrophic or permanent harm. Lost wages are then added as a direct economic loss, unaffected by the severity multiplier. Finally, the entire sum is scaled by the defendant's liability percentage, reflecting comparative negligence principles common in most U.S. states. This formula provides an illustrative estimate; actual awards depend on insurance limits, legal representation, and local tort law.
How to use
Example: medicalCosts = $8,000, futureCareCosts = $4,000, lostWages = $5,000, injurySeverity = 3, liabilityPercent = 75%. Step 1: Add medical costs: $8,000 + $4,000 = $12,000. Step 2: Apply severity multiplier: $12,000 × 3 = $36,000. Step 3: Add lost wages: $36,000 + $5,000 = $41,000. Step 4: Apply liability: $41,000 × (75 ÷ 100) = $41,000 × 0.75 = $30,750 estimated settlement.
Frequently asked questions
How does the injury severity multiplier affect my settlement estimate?
The injury severity multiplier scales your medical costs to represent non-economic damages such as pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. A multiplier of 1 is typically used for short-term, fully recoverable injuries, while values of 4–5 apply to permanent disabilities or disfigurement. Because this multiplier is applied to both current and future medical costs, even a small change can significantly impact the final estimate. Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate this figure based on medical documentation and the injury's impact on daily life.
What is comparative negligence and how does it affect a personal injury settlement?
Comparative negligence is a legal doctrine that reduces your settlement by your own percentage of fault in an accident. For example, if you are found 25% at fault, a defendant who is 75% liable will only owe you 75% of total damages. This calculator reflects that by multiplying your gross damages by the defendant's liability percentage divided by 100. Some states use pure comparative negligence, while others bar recovery entirely if you are more than 50% at fault — always consult a local attorney.
Why are future care costs included separately in a personal injury settlement?
Future care costs represent anticipated medical expenses you have not yet incurred, such as ongoing therapy, surgeries, or long-term medication. Including them separately ensures the settlement accounts for the full financial impact of your injury over time, not just bills already paid. Courts and insurers typically require documented medical opinions to substantiate future care estimates. Failing to include future costs is a common mistake that can leave injury victims undercompensated after a settlement is finalized.