Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Estimate what your injury claim could be worth using the multiplier method — the same framework attorneys and insurance adjusters use as a starting point — including what you'd take home after a contingency fee.
How the multiplier method works
Settlements have two parts. Economic damages are countable: medical bills (past and future), lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages — pain and suffering — are typically estimated by multiplying medical specials by 1.5 to 5 depending on severity: soft-tissue injuries with full recovery sit at 1.5–2×, fractures and months of treatment at 2–3×, and surgery, permanent disability, or disfigurement at 3–5×.
Insurers increasingly run claims through software like Colossus rather than pure multipliers, but the multiplier remains the standard framework for a first estimate and for sanity-checking an adjuster's offer.
What changes the real number
Three factors move settlements most: liability strength (a disputed-fault case settles for less — see our fault rules calculator for your state's rule), insurance policy limits (you generally can't collect more than the at-fault party's coverage), and documentation quality (gaps in treatment and missing wage records shrink offers).
Contingency fees run about 33% for pre-suit settlements and up to 40% if a lawsuit is filed; case costs and medical liens come out of the remainder. Studies consistently show represented claimants net more even after fees.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average personal injury settlement?
Most car-accident settlements fall between $15,000 and $30,000, but the range is enormous — minor claims settle under $10,000 while severe-injury cases reach six or seven figures. Your medical specials and severity drive it.
How is pain and suffering calculated?
Most commonly medical specials × 1.5–5 based on severity (the method this calculator uses). Some insurers use a per-diem method instead: a daily dollar amount for each day of documented recovery.
How long does a settlement take?
Straightforward claims settle in 3–9 months after treatment ends; disputed liability or serious injuries commonly take 1–2 years, longer if a lawsuit is filed. Settling before treatment finishes usually undervalues the claim.
Do I need a lawyer to settle?
Not legally, and small clear-fault claims are often handled solo. For significant injuries, the Insurance Research Council's data shows represented claimants receive substantially more on average, even net of the fee.
This tool is for general information only and is not legal advice. Deadlines and fault rules have exceptions that only a licensed attorney in your state can assess. Data verified July 2026.