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Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
A quick, private estimate of what a personal injury claim may be worth, built on the same method insurance adjusters and attorneys use as a starting point: economic losses plus a pain and suffering amount, reduced by your share of fault.
Educational estimate only. Lawyer Magazine is a publication, not a law firm, and this tool is not legal advice. Your calculation stays in your browser and is not stored.
How this calculator works
- 1
Add up your economic damages
Medical bills (past and expected), lost income and property damage are the documented part of a claim.
- 2
Choose a pain and suffering method
The multiplier method applies 1.5 to 5 times your injury-related losses (property damage is not multiplied), depending on how serious and lasting the injury is. The per diem method assigns a daily amount for each day of recovery.
- 3
Apply fault and policy limits
Most states reduce compensation by your percentage of fault. A settlement is also usually capped by the at-fault party's insurance limit.
- 4
See what you may keep
Contingency fees (typically 33% before a lawsuit, up to 40% after) and case costs come out of the gross settlement.
Frequently asked questions
- How is a personal injury settlement calculated?
- Most estimates start with economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage) and add non-economic damages for pain and suffering. The total is then reduced by your share of fault and limited by available insurance coverage. Every case is negotiated individually, so a calculator gives a range, not a promise.
- What multiplier is used for pain and suffering?
- Adjusters commonly use 1.5 to 5. Soft tissue injuries that heal within weeks sit near the low end; fractures, surgery, permanent scarring or long recovery push the multiplier higher. Clear liability and strong medical documentation also help.
- How does a car accident settlement calculator work?
- It uses the same inputs as any injury claim: medical treatment, missed work, vehicle damage and how serious the injuries are. Car accident claims are usually paid by the at-fault driver's liability insurance, so the policy limit often decides the ceiling.
- How much do personal injury lawyers take?
- Most work on contingency: around 33% if the case settles before a lawsuit and 35 to 40% if it goes to litigation. Case costs such as medical records, experts and filing fees are usually reimbursed from the settlement as well.
- What happens if I was partly at fault?
- In comparative negligence states your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. A few states use contributory negligence, where any fault can bar recovery, and many bar recovery once you are 50 or 51% at fault.
- Does this work for dog bite or slip and fall claims?
- Yes, the same damages logic applies to dog bites, premises liability and most other injury claims. Workers' compensation is different: benefits follow state formulas and usually do not include pain and suffering.
Have a story tip, correction or question?
Write to our editors. For a quick estimate on your own situation, our free calculators are a good first step.