Estimate your personal injury settlement value. Calculate medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Free legal calculator, no attorney required.
The average car accident settlement is $20,000-$25,000 for minor injuries and $75,000-$150,000 for moderate injuries. Settlements use a multiplier method: total economic damages (medical bills + lost wages), then multiply by 1.5x-5x for pain and suffering based on severity. This calculator helps you understand your range — always consult an attorney before accepting any offer.
Step 1: Total your special damages — medical bills (past + future), lost wages, property damage, out-of-pocket expenses. Step 2: Multiply by a pain and suffering factor: 1.5x for minor injuries (recovered fully in 3-6 months), 2-3x for moderate injuries (soft tissue, ongoing treatment), 3-5x for serious injuries (surgery, permanent impairment). Step 3: Reduce by your percentage of fault in comparative negligence states.
Documented injuries — ER records, MRI reports, and specialist notes carry far more weight than chiropractor notes alone. Permanent impairment or scarring: multipliers jump to 4-8x. Liability clarity: if the other driver ran a red light on camera, insurers settle quickly. Pre-existing conditions with documented aggravation are compensable.
95% of personal injury cases settle out of court. Trials can take 2-4 years and cost $20,000-$100,000 in litigation expenses. Never accept the first offer without an attorney review. Contingency fee attorneys (standard 33% of settlement) typically 3x the initial offer, netting you more even after fees.
Minor injury cases: 3-6 months. Moderate injuries requiring ongoing treatment: 1-2 years (wait until maximum medical improvement before settling). Serious injuries with litigation: 2-4 years. Never settle before reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI) — once you sign a release, you can't reopen the claim.
Compensatory damages for physical injuries are generally not taxable under IRC §104(a)(2). Exceptions: punitive damages are taxable, emotional distress not tied to physical injury is taxable, and interest earned on the settlement is taxable.
Most work on contingency: 33% of settlement, 40% if the case goes to trial. No upfront cost. Studies show represented plaintiffs receive 3-4x more than unrepresented plaintiffs, even after attorney fees. For cases over $10,000, legal representation almost always nets you more money.
Minor injuries (full recovery in weeks): $2,500-$10,000. Moderate injuries (6 months treatment): $15,000-$50,000. Serious injuries (surgery, permanent impairment): $100,000-$500,000+. Catastrophic injuries (TBI, paralysis): $1M+.
For minor cases under $5,000 with clear liability, you can negotiate directly. For anything involving hospital visits, lost work time, surgery, or ongoing treatment — an attorney statistically nets you significantly more. The initial consultation is always free with contingency attorneys.
Rough ranges by injury, not just severity stage: soft tissue (whiplash, sprains) $15,000-$75,000; fractures $50,000-$200,000; spinal injury $100,000-$1,000,000+; traumatic brain injury $100,000-$5,000,000+; wrongful death $500,000-$3,000,000+. Insurers increasingly use scoring software like Colossus to evaluate claims, so documented medical records matter more than ever.