Vermont Car Accident Settlement Calculator
Get a rough estimate of what a Vermont car-accident injury claim might be worth, based on your medical bills and losses. This is an estimate to understand the factors — not a prediction or an offer.
This is a rough estimate, not a prediction or an offer.
No tool can predict a settlement. This uses the common "multiplier method" to show the factors that drive value and a wide range — actual outcomes depend on the facts, the available insurance limits, the venue, and negotiation. Consult a Vermont car-accident attorney about your case.
Enter your medical bills and losses to see an estimated range
The multiplier method (pain-and-suffering as a multiple of your medical bills) is a common starting point, not a guarantee. A real recovery is also capped by the available insurance (the at-fault driver's limits, or your own UM/UIM coverage). Most car-accident cases settle; an attorney is the only way to value your specific claim. This tool is not legal advice and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.
How the Estimate Works
No tool can predict a car-accident settlement — every case is different and the number depends on the facts, the available insurance, the venue, and negotiation. This calculator applies the multiplier method: it adds your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage), then estimates pain and suffering as a multiple of your medical bills (about 1.5× for minor injuries up to 5× or more for catastrophic ones), and shows a wide range. It then applies Vermont's fault rule and flags the insurance limits that cap a real payout.
Vermont Is an at-fault (tort) state
Vermont is a pure tort (at-fault) state. It is NOT one of the 12 traditional no-fault/PIP states (FL, MI, MN, NY, ND, HI, KS, KY, MA, NJ, PA, UT) and has no PIP regime. The at-fault driver and their liability insurer are responsible for the other party's injuries and property damage; an injured person may sue the at-fault driver directly for all damages, including pain and suffering, with no statutory threshold to clear. Negligence is governed by Vermont's modified comparative fault rule (50% bar, 12 V.S.A. § 1036): a plaintiff recovers only if their fault is not greater than the defendant's, with damages reduced by the plaintiff's share.
Minimum Insurance & UM/UIM in Vermont
A settlement is only collectible up to the available insurance. Vermont's minimum required liability coverage is $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage. Many drivers carry only the minimum, so a large claim can exceed the at-fault driver's policy. Per 23 V.S.A. § 800(a), minimum liability limits are 25/50/10: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident (two or more persons), and $10,000 property damage per crash. In lieu of a policy, an owner may file evidence of self-insurance of $115,000 with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): if the other driver had no insurance or fled the scene, your recovery comes from your own UM/UIM coverage. In Vermont, UM/UIM is required to carry. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is mandatory in Vermont and cannot be rejected. Under 23 V.S.A. § 941, no auto liability policy may be issued or delivered in the state unless UM/UIM coverage is provided. Minimum UM/UIM bodily-injury limits are $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident — notably HIGHER than the basic liability minimums — plus UM property-damage coverage up to $10,000 per claim subject to a $150 deductible. If the policy's liability limits exceed these minimums, UM/UIM must match the higher limits unless the policyholder directs otherwise.
Fault & Your Recovery: modified comparative negligence (50% bar)
Vermont follows modified comparative negligence (50% bar). Your award is reduced by your share of fault, and you recover nothing once you are 50% or more at fault.
Deadline to File a Vermont Car-Accident Claim
Vermont generally requires a car-accident injury lawsuit to be filed within 3 years of the crash (the statute of limitations). Three years for personal-injury (bodily-injury) claims under 12 V.S.A. § 512(4), which governs injuries to the person by the act or default of another. The clock generally runs from the date of the crash, subject to the discovery rule. Property-damage claims also fall under the three-year limit of § 512(5). Miss it and your claim is usually barred no matter how strong it is, so do not wait to talk to an attorney.
- Vermont is a pure at-fault (tort) state — it has no no-fault system and no PIP. You file directly against the at-fault driver's liability insurer (or sue) for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, with no injury threshold to clear.
- Minimum required auto liability coverage is 25/50/10 under 23 V.S.A. § 800: $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 for property damage. Self-insurance of $115,000 is an alternative filed with DMV.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is mandatory and cannot be waived (23 V.S.A. § 941), with minimum UM/UIM limits of $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident — higher than the basic liability floor — plus up to $10,000 UM property damage ($150 deductible).
- Vermont follows modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar (12 V.S.A. § 1036): you can recover only if you are not more at fault than the other driver, and your award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
- The deadline to sue for crash injuries is generally three years from the date of the accident (12 V.S.A. § 512); property-damage claims share the same three-year limit.
- Because there is no PIP, MedPay is optional first-party coverage — useful to cover immediate medical costs while a liability claim is pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my Vermont car accident claim worth?
No one can tell you a number in advance. A rough estimate adds your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage) and applies a pain-and-suffering multiplier, then adjusts for fault under Vermont's modified comparative negligence (50% bar) rule. The real value also depends on the available insurance limits — an attorney is the only way to value your specific case.
Is Vermont a no-fault state?
Vermont is a pure tort (at-fault) state. It is NOT one of the 12 traditional no-fault/PIP states (FL, MI, MN, NY, ND, HI, KS, KY, MA, NJ, PA, UT) and has no PIP regime. The at-fault driver and their liability insurer are responsible for the other party's injuries and property damage; an injured person may sue the at-fault driver directly for all damages, including pain and suffering, with no statutory threshold to clear. Negligence is governed by Vermont's modified comparative fault rule (50% bar, 12 V.S.A. § 1036): a plaintiff recovers only if their fault is not greater than the defendant's, with damages reduced by the plaintiff's share.
Does my own fault reduce my Vermont settlement?
Yes. Vermont follows modified comparative negligence (50% bar). You recover nothing once you are 50% or more at fault.
How long do I have to file in Vermont?
Generally 3 years from the crash. Three years for personal-injury (bodily-injury) claims under 12 V.S.A. § 512(4), which governs injuries to the person by the act or default of another. The clock generally runs from the date of the crash, subject to the discovery rule. Property-damage claims also fall under the three-year limit of § 512(5).
Is this calculator accurate?
It is a rough estimate to show the factors that drive value — not a prediction or an offer. Real settlements vary enormously and are capped by the available insurance. Treat any number here as a ballpark and consult a Vermont car-accident attorney.
Disclaimer
This estimator is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a prediction of any outcome. RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm. The value of a car-accident claim can only be assessed by a licensed attorney reviewing your specific facts.