Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Estimate what a personal injury or dog-bite claim might be worth, by state. Enter your medical bills and losses to see a rough range — built on the factors that actually drive value, with your state's fault rule and filing deadline.
⚠ A rough estimate, not a prediction or an offer.
No tool can predict a settlement. This shows the factors and a wide range to help you understand value — consult a personal-injury attorney about your case.
How settlements are valued
There is no formula that predicts a settlement, but most start from the same rough math: add up the economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage), then estimate pain and suffering as a multiple of those damages — about 1.5× for minor injuries up to 5× or more for catastrophic ones. The result is a wide range, not a number, because the real value depends on the facts, the available insurance limits, the venue, and negotiation.
Your state's fault rule matters too: in "pure contributory" states (Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and DC) being even 1% at fault can bar recovery entirely, while most states reduce the award by your share of fault. And every state sets a deadline (statute of limitations) to file, often 2 or 3 years. Pick your state above for its specific rules, or read the underlying dog bite laws by state.
What drives the number up or down
Two claims with the same medical bills can settle for very different amounts. The factors that push value up include a permanent injury, scarring, or disability; objective medical proof such as imaging or surgery rather than self-reported pain; a long, painful recovery; a clear effect on your work and daily life; and obvious liability on the other side. Gaps in treatment, pre-existing conditions, and your own share of fault pull it down. Because pain and suffering is anchored to your medical bills, consistent treatment and complete records matter, not to inflate the claim, but because an injury with no documented treatment is hard to value at all.
Insurance limits cap most real-world payouts
A claim is only worth what can actually be collected. Even a strong case often settles within the at-fault party's liability insurance limits, because suing for more than someone can pay rarely recovers the difference. This is why your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage matters so much in serious crashes, and why two identical injuries can resolve for very different amounts depending on who caused them. The estimator shows the value of the harm; the available coverage is the ceiling on what you are likely to receive.
Don't miss your filing deadline
Every state sets a statute of limitations for injury lawsuits. File even one day late and the court will almost always dismiss the case no matter how strong it is, which destroys your leverage to settle. Deadlines are commonly two or three years from the date of injury but can be shorter, and claims against a city, county, or state often require a formal notice within months. Confirm your state's deadline on its statute of limitations page before you do anything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a personal injury settlement calculated?
Most start from the same rough math: add up your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage), then estimate pain and suffering as a multiple of those damages, usually about 1.5x for minor injuries up to 5x or more for catastrophic ones. The total is then reduced by your share of fault. There is no official formula, so the result is a range, not a prediction.
What is the average personal injury settlement?
There is no meaningful "average." Settlements range from a few thousand dollars for minor soft-tissue injuries to seven figures for permanent or disabling harm. The number depends on the severity of the injury, the strength of the medical evidence, who was at fault, and the available insurance limits, so a state-specific range is far more useful than any single average.
Does my fault reduce my settlement?
Almost always. Most states follow comparative negligence and reduce your recovery by your percentage of fault. A few states (Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia) follow pure contributory negligence, where being even 1% at fault can bar your claim entirely. The state calculators apply your state rule.
How long do I have to file an injury claim?
Each state sets a statute of limitations, commonly two or three years from the date of injury, after which your claim is permanently barred. Some claims have shorter windows, and claims against a government entity often require notice within months. Check your state page for the exact deadline.
Is this calculator a settlement offer or legal advice?
No. It is a free, rough estimate to help you understand how injury claims are valued and what factors move the number. It is not a prediction, an offer, or legal advice, and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm. Consult a personal-injury attorney about your specific case.
Disclaimer
This calculator is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice, a prediction, or a settlement offer. The multiplier method is a rough negotiating tool, not law. The value of an injury claim can only be assessed by a licensed attorney reviewing your specific facts. RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.